Ephedrine worth around Rs 3 crore seized, two held

Chennai:  Nearly 50 kg of ephedrine estimated to be Rs three crore concealed in packets of a food brand were recovered today and two persons arrested in this connection, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said. Acting on specific information, officials of NCB arrested Thamin Basha and Sate, both residents of the state, from the Central Railway station here, a release from A Bruno, Zonal Director, NCB, said.

“The seized drug was destined to Malaysia via Kolkata and was concealed in packets used by a food production brand,” it said, adding the seizure was valued at Rs three crore in the international market.
Possession and export of ephedrine, falling under the ‘controlled substances of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, without license is punishable upto 10 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment, it said.

“There is a huge demand for ephedrine in Malaysia for illegal manufacture of methamphetamine (a widely abused stimulant party drug) and this has led to increased attempts to smuggle,” of the drug, it said. Following recent instances of recovery of ephedrine in Kochi international airport booked in “fictitious address” in Chennai, investigation was underway, the release added.