In a significant crackdown on illegal drug manufacturing, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) in Hyderabad has apprehended four individuals involved in a clandestine ephedrine production facility located in Jeedimetla.
Acting swiftly on reliable intelligence, the EAGLE team executed a raid on a residential flat at Sai Datta Residency, Springfield Colony, near Suchitra Crossroad, on October 9. The operation resulted in the confiscation of a massive 220 kilograms of ephedrine, with an estimated street value of ₹72 crore, alongside several mobile phones used to orchestrate the illicit activities.
Those taken into custody include Vastavayi Shiva Ramakrishna Parama Varma (52) from Kakinada, who is believed to be the mastermind; Dangeti Anil (31), the production manager at PNM Life Sciences in IDA Bollaram; Musini Dorababu (29) from East Godavari; and Maddu Venkata Krishna Rao (45), a director of PNM Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. A fifth suspect, M. Prasad, another co-director of the same company, remains at large.
Sandeep Shandilya, Director of EAGLE, revealed that Varma, an experienced chemist with a criminal record for drug-related offenses, orchestrated the entire illicit scheme. According to Shandilya, Varma approached Anil in December 2024, proposing the manufacture of ephedrine within the premises of PNM Life Sciences. Enticed by the financial gains, Anil then consulted with company directors Krishna Rao and Prasad, who readily consented to the illegal production taking place at their factory in Bollaram.
Varma is accused of supplying crucial raw materials like toluene, bromine, and acetone. He also reportedly transferred ₹8 lakh to Anil for the procurement of additional chemicals, including sodium hydroxide flakes, hydrochloric acid, and sodium borohydride, all essential for ephedrine synthesis.
The officer further explained that Anil meticulously supervised the production process, following Varma’s specific formula, which successfully yielded 220 kilograms of high-purity ephedrine. This dangerous narcotic precursor was subsequently hidden at Varma’s home in Jeedimetla.
EAGLE teams had maintained surveillance on Varma, a recidivist offender with previous arrests by the Narcotics Control Bureau in Bengaluru and Hyderabad in both 2017 and 2019. Their vigilance paid off on October 9 when the suspects converged at the Jeedimetla flat to connect with potential buyers. It was then that officers launched their raid, arresting four individuals, though Prasad managed to evade capture.
Ephedrine is a vital precursor chemical in the illicit production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive and dangerous drug. The factory in Bollaram, where the manufacturing took place, was found devoid of necessary documentation like lease deeds and financial records, strongly suggesting a deliberate effort to conceal its illegal operations.
EAGLE officials issued a stern warning, highlighting that the illicit use of industrial facilities for drug production poses a grave threat to both public health and national security. They strongly encouraged citizens, particularly young people, to avoid drugs and advised parents to remain vigilant about their children’s activities. Confidential information regarding drug offenses can be shared via the toll-free number 1908 or through WhatsApp at 8712671111.