*The authorities, during the raid, found a makeshift laboratory to manufacture the drug
*The farm is located a stone’s throw from the Excise office at Vattem village in Nagarkurnnol
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday raided a poultry farm amid agricultural fields and seized 1.42 kg of Alprazolam worth Rs 3,14 crore in Nagarkurnool district. The poultry was located on the outskirts of Vattem village under Bijinepally mandal in the district.
The DRI authorities, according to sources, were shocked to find a makeshift laboratory to manufacture the drug in the poultry farm.
Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. It is a prescription drug and its misuse may lead to memory impairment, sleeplessness, nausea, constipation and impaired coordination, etc, the official said.
Though the poultry farm was located at a stone’s throw from the Excise office, the officials failed to bust the racket which was run uninterrupted for six years. The Central Agency, DRI, acting on a credible tip-off, raided the poultry farm and busted the racket, the sources said.
The failure on the part of Excise officials aroused suspicion whether the racket enjoyed patronage by highly influential people. The DRI officials were reluctant to identify the source who tipped off the information about the racket.
The poultry farm from the drug was sized belonged to a person, identified as Hanumanth Reddy. The DRI authorities arrested him. He allegedly has a previous history of manufacturing drugs.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders demanded an investigation into the racket to find out whether the officials concerned were hand in glove with the racketeer. They said that they would submit a memorandum to the officials to order an investigation into the incident. If the officials failed to pay attention to their plea, they said that would lay siege to the house of Minister for Prohibition and Excise V Srinivas Goud.
The BJP leaders and activists staged a protest also. The protest was led by Poldar Ramu, Karkonda Srinivas Goud, former ZPTC member Krishnanath, Surampalli Sudhakar and others.
