Jaipur, April 3 : In a major breakthrough, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has dismantled an illicit Mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit operating from the rooftop of a residential house in Jodhpur, recovering drugs worth Rs three crore.

Acting under the direction of Additional Director General Dinesh M.N., the AGTF recovered 3.055 kg of finished MD drugs and 55.725 kg of hazardous chemicals, valued at approximately Rs three crore in the international market.

The accused, Ganpatram Beniwal (40), a native of Mandali (Balotra) and currently residing in Shankar Nagar, Banar, Jodhpur, was arrested on the spot. Investigations revealed that Beniwal had partnered with Sanchore-based smugglers Asuram alias â??Luckyâ?? and Bhanu to clear debts amounting to Rs 12 lakh. In a desperate attempt to repay the money, he had converted his residence, â??Beniwal Sadanâ??, into a clandestine drug laboratory. Intelligence inputs further indicated that the chemicals seized were intended for producing an additional 60 kg of MD drugs.

ADG Dinesh M.N. said the AGTF had been receiving consistent intelligence about drug mafias in Jodhpur supplying MD drugs to local peddlers.

Acting on a specific tip-off received by AGTF ASI Rakesh Jakhar, a special team was formed under the supervision of SP Gyanchand Yadav and ASP Narottam Lal Verma. Based on the intelligence, AGTF, ATS, DST, and the Banad Police Station team executed a coordinated night operation.

The house, located in an isolated patch of land, was cordoned off under the cover of darkness. When officers reached the rooftop, they found MD being dried on mattresses under electric bulbs, with chemical drums and electric stoves scattered around, visually confirming the site as a full-fledged illegal drug lab.

The police seized 3.055 kg of manufactured MD, 55.725 kg of dangerous chemicals, including Dichloromethane, Max Fine Chem, De-ionized Water, and Jyoti Hydrotech, Electric stoves, nine buckets, steel utensils, and other drug-processing equipment.

ASI Rakesh Jakhar and Constable Sumer Singh played a crucial role in the operation, with technical support from ASI Ramesh Kumar Yadav. The on-ground action was effectively led by Banad SHO Lekhraj and DST In-charge Khet Singh.

The investigation has now been assigned to Additional DCP Amrit Lal Jinger, while teams are conducting raids to nab the main suppliers, Asuram alias Lucky and Bhanu.

/IANS