Gujarat ATS Busts Drug Manufacturing Racket Near Surat, 3 Arrested

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has dismantled a mephedrone manufacturing unit located on the outskirts of Surat city. According to an official statement on Thursday, the raid resulted in the seizure of drugs and raw materials worth ₹51.4 crore.

According to an ATS release, three individuals—Sunil Yadav, Vijay Gajera, and Haresh Korat—have been arrested in connection with the incident.

It was discovered that the three individuals had rented an industrial shed in Kareli village, Palsana taluka, Surat district, for ₹20,000 per month. They used this facility to manufacture mephedrone, also known as MD drugs, using various materials, according to the statement.

According to the release, ATS officials received information recently that Yadav, Gajera, and Korat were involved in manufacturing mephedrone at the shed in Kareli. They allegedly sold the drugs to Mumbai resident Salim Saiyad.

According to the statement, acting on the information, a team of ATS raided the shed in the Darshan Industrial Area of Kareli on Wednesday night. They apprehended Yadav and Gajera at the location, while Korat was captured in Junagadh in the early hours.

The ATS seized 4 kg of mephedrone and 31.4 kg of raw ingredients worth ₹51.4 crore from the sealed facility during the search, according to the statement.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Yadav was in the chemical trade industry and learned how to manufacture mephedrone over the internet.

The three people joined together and began producing the drug at the shed, and they had already given 4 kg of mephedrone to Saiyad some time ago, according to the statement, adding that an investigation into the matter was ongoing.