Telangana Drug Bust Dhabas Used for Interstate Mephedrone Network
HYDERABAD: Sleuths of the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) recently busted an interstate mephedrone racket and found that the accused bought multiple dhabas across states to run their drug network.
Investigators said the accused purchased eateries in Telangana, Karnataka and other states to build contacts with transporters. They used these links to move drugs and precursor chemicals without raising suspicion.
Police identified a dhaba in Chegunta in Medak district, along with similar outlets in Sadasivpet and Bengaluru. Officials are now checking whether the accused also bought eateries in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as reported by TOI.
In an earlier case, another accused in a drug racket ran a dhaba in Shadnagar, showing a pattern of using roadside businesses as a cover.
Weak monitoring enables easy access to precursors
Investigators said illegal drug makers source precursor chemicals through e-commerce platforms due to weak monitoring.
“Unlike in other countries, India’s system is not foolproof. Authorities abroad regulate and record precursor transactions, making it easier for agencies to track them. In India, if a precursor is not regulated, agencies remain unaware even if the seller operates legally,” an investigator said.
Officials added that this gap allows such chemicals to reach illegal networks without detection.
Fake addresses used to divert consignments
In this case, a Mumbai-based manufacturer supplied precursors to an intermediary who sold them online. The accused contacted the intermediary and placed orders using the name of a defunct chemical company in Bengaluru.
Police said the accused diverted the consignment by using a fake address instead of the company’s registered location.
They then transported the chemicals to Shadnagar in Telangana and Agra in Uttar Pradesh, where they processed them to manufacture banned synthetic drugs.
