DRI raids illegal Alprazolam factory in Andhra Pradesh under Operation “White Hammer”; 237 kg drugs worth ₹47 crore and over 3.5 tonnes of chemicals seized; two arrested

Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 10:36AM by PIB Delhi In a significant crackdown on the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a clandestine facility engaged in the production of Alprazolam , a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985, in Kondapalli Industrial Development Area, District NTR, Andhra Pradesh. The intelligence-driven and well-coordinated operation codenamed &ldquo;Operation White Hammer&rdquo; , was carried out on 11 th and 12 th March 2026, and revealed a full-fledged industrial setup for production of Alprazolam, operating under the guise of a chemical manufacturing unit. Searches at the premises resulted in the seizure of 237 kg Alprazolam with an estimated market value of Rs. 47 crore, along with over 800 kg key raw materials, 2,860 litres of various chemicals, and industrial-scale equipment such as reactors, driers and a centrifuge, demonstrating an organised, large-scale clandestine manufacturing facility. Preliminary investigation revealed the operation was orchestrated by a chemist with over 20 years’ experience in chemical and pharmaceutical sector, in collusion with his associate who arranged raw materials and distribution in Hyderabad. The accused had rented the factory premises for clandestinely manufacturing Alprazolam. Both masterminds have been arrested. During the current financial year, DRI has dismantled eight clandestine drug manufacturing units through intelligence-based operations, reaffirming its firm commitment to the Government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and to safeguarding society and people from the menace of narcotic and psychotropic substances. *** NB/KMN (Release ID: 2239382) Visitor Counter : 2239 Read this release in: Urdu , Marathi , हिन्दी , Bengali , Bengali-TR , Gujarati , Tamil , Telugu Ministry of Finance DRI raids illegal Alprazolam factory in Andhra Pradesh under Operation “White Hammer”; 237 kg drugs worth ₹47 crore and over 3.5 tonnes of chemicals seized; two arrested Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 10:36AM by PIB Delhi In a significant crackdown on the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a clandestine facility engaged in the production of Alprazolam , a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985, in Kondapalli Industrial Development Area, District NTR, Andhra Pradesh. The intelligence-driven and well-coordinated operation codenamed &ldquo;Operation White Hammer&rdquo; , was carried out on 11 th and 12 th March 2026, and revealed a full-fledged industrial setup for production of Alprazolam, operating under the guise of a chemical manufacturing unit. Searches at the premises resulted in the seizure of 237 kg Alprazolam with an estimated market value of Rs. 47 crore, along with over 800 kg key raw materials, 2,860 litres of various chemicals, and industrial-scale equipment such as reactors, driers and a centrifuge, demonstrating an organised, large-scale clandestine manufacturing facility. Preliminary investigation revealed the operation was orchestrated by a chemist with over 20 years’ experience in chemical and pharmaceutical sector, in collusion with his associate who arranged raw materials and distribution in Hyderabad. The accused had rented the factory premises for clandestinely manufacturing Alprazolam. Both masterminds have been arrested. During the current financial year, DRI has dismantled eight clandestine drug manufacturing units through intelligence-based operations, reaffirming its firm commitment to the Government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and to safeguarding society and people from the menace of narcotic and psychotropic substances. *** NB/KMN (Release ID: 2239382) <span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">In a significant crackdown on the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a clandestine facility engaged in the production of <strong>Alprazolam</strong>, a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985, in Kondapalli Industrial Development Area, District NTR, Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The intelligence-driven and well-coordinated operation codenamed <strong>&ldquo;Operation White Hammer&rdquo;</strong>, was carried out on 11th and 12th March 2026, and revealed a full-fledged industrial setup for production of Alprazolam, operating under the guise of a chemical manufacturing unit.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center"><img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image0019MD4.jpg" style="height:301px; width:501px" /></p> <p style="text-align:center"><img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image0027O1S.jpg" style="height:301px; width:501px" /></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Searches at the premises resulted in the seizure of <strong>237 kg Alprazolam</strong> with an estimated market value of Rs. 47 crore, along with over 800 kg key raw materials, 2,860 litres of various chemicals, and industrial-scale equipment such as reactors, driers and a centrifuge, demonstrating an organised, large-scale clandestine manufacturing facility.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center"><img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image003OK82.jpg" style="height:301px; width:501px" /></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Preliminary investigation revealed the operation was orchestrated by a chemist with over 20 years’ experience in chemical and pharmaceutical sector, in collusion with his associate who arranged raw materials and distribution in Hyderabad. The accused had rented the factory premises for clandestinely manufacturing Alprazolam. Both masterminds have been arrested.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center"><img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image004NGAQ.jpg" style="height:301px; width:501px" /></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">During the current financial year, DRI has dismantled <strong>eight clandestine drug manufacturing units</strong> through intelligence-based operations, reaffirming its firm commitment to the Government’s <strong><em>Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan</em></strong> and to safeguarding society and people from the menace of narcotic and psychotropic substances.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>***</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>NB/KMN</strong></span></span></p> " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); 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