News: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) uncovered a major illicit drug manufacturing unit in Gujarat under “Operation White Cauldron.”
About Operation White Cauldron
- Conducted by: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under the Ministry of Finance
- Location: A secluded area off Gujarat State Highway (SH) 701, Valsad district, Gujarat.
- Objective: To dismantle a clandestine synthetic drug manufacturing unit producing Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance regulated under the NDPS Act, 1985.
- Outcome:
- A full-scale illegal manufacturing unit was uncovered.
- Four persons arrested — including two masterminds/financiers, one employee, and one recipient from Telangana.
- Seizures Made:
- Finished Alprazolam: 9.55 kg and Semi-finished Alprazolam: 104.15 kg
- Raw materials (431 kg total) including: p-Nitrochlorobenzene, Phosphorous Pentasulfide, Ethyl Acetate and Hydrochloric Acid
- Industrial-scale equipment seized: Reactors, Centrifuge, Industrial refrigeration unit and Heating mantle.
About Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) serves as India’s apex anti-smuggling agency, functioning under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance.
- It is primarily responsible for detecting and preventing smuggling activities, including drug trafficking, illicit international trade in wildlife, and environmentally sensitive goods.
- The DRI also plays a crucial role in combating commercial frauds related to international trade and preventing evasion of customs duties, thereby safeguarding the nation’s economic and environmental interests.
