- Seizes Mephedrone worth Rs 92 Crore
In a major blow to a narcotics cartel, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully busted a clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing unit in Bhopal. Codenamed “Operation Crystal Break,” the well-coordinated raid resulted in the seizure of a massive cache of drugs and the arrest of seven key individuals.
The drug bust
Acting on a critical intelligence tip, DRI officials raided a secluded, well-concealed factory in Jagdishpur (Islamnagar), Bhopal on August 16, 2025. The operation yielded a significant haul of 61.2 kilograms of liquid Mephedrone, valued at an estimated Rs 92 crore on the black market. In addition to the finished product, authorities also seized over 540 kilograms of raw materials and a full set of processing equipment, including reactors and chemical apparatus. Two individuals, including the cartel’s main chemist, were caught in the act of producing the illicit substance.
Arrests and cartel operations
The operation expanded with simultaneous raids across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. Seven people were arrested for their roles in the drug network, including the main coordinator, who oversaw the supply of raw materials from Mumbai to Bhopal. The police also arrested two suppliers and a transporter from Mumbai and a close associate handling financial transactions via the Hawala network in Surat. All seven confessed to their involvement, admitting to working under the direction of a foreign-based kingpin.
This marks the sixth Mephedrone factory busted by the DRI in the last year, demonstrating the agency’s relentless efforts to dismantle these dangerous networks.
