Article Today, Hyderabad:
Mumbai police have uncovered a massive drug racket operating from the Charlapalli industrial area on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Acting on a tip-off, the Crime Branch learnt that mephedrone and other synthetic drugs were being manufactured under the cover of a chemical factory, Vagdevi Laboratories. In an unusual move, a constable was sent undercover as a labourer. After working inside the unit for nearly a month, he passed on crucial details that led to the crackdown. The raid resulted in the seizure of 35,500 litres of precursor chemicals, 5.79 kilograms of mephedrone, 950 kilograms of powder substances, and methylenedioxy methamphetamine worth about ₹12,000 crore.
Lead from Mumbai Arrest
The operation stemmed from the arrest of a Bangladeshi national, Fatima Murad Sheikh, by the Mumbai Crime Branch on August 8. She was found with 105 grams of mephedrone. During interrogation, she disclosed that the drugs were being sourced from Telangana. This prompted Mumbai narcotics officials to keep surveillance on Vagdevi Laboratories in Charlapalli and Nacharam.
Constable in Disguise
The strategy of deploying a constable in the guise of a daily wage worker proved decisive. The officer gathered precise information on production methods and supply routes. Based on this evidence, the Mumbai police launched a surprise raid and arrested 12 people, including the alleged kingpin Srinivas. Known to have escaped the law earlier, Srinivas reportedly failed to evade the operation this time.
Concerns Over Local Oversight
The exposure of such a large-scale racket in Hyderabad has triggered concerns about lapses in local policing. Despite repeated seizures of small drug consignments by Telangana task forces, the presence of a major manufacturing hub in Charlapalli and Chengicherla went unnoticed. Allegations of negligence, and possible complicity, have now surfaced. Demands are growing for a thorough probe into the role of local authorities.
Questions on Enforcement
The episode highlights gaps in surveillance and raises doubts over the monitoring capacity of state enforcement agencies. While Mumbai police executed the successful operation, attention has turned to the absence of similar alerts from local forces. Investigations are expected to examine whether lapses were due to oversight or deeper systemic issues.
