Jodhpur: Police have arrested five drug traffickers and seized over 100 kg of restricted chemicals used in the manufacture of MD drugs during an operation in the Jhalamand area of Jodhpur district on Friday. The accused have been identified as Omprakash Bishnoi, Anil Bishnoi, Kuldeep Bishnoi, Ramniwas Bishnoi and Sandeep Bishnoi. Police intercepted them while they were allegedly transporting the consignment from Jodhpur to Barmer.
The arrests were made during a late-night patrol when police found a Fortuner and an unnumbered car parked outside a house in Ramdev Vihar. Five suspects were detained from the premises after failing to produce identification and allegedly giving false details. All of them along with the vehicles were then taken to the police station for further interrogation.
During questioning, Omprakash reportedly admitted the presence of suspicious material in the vehicle. A search led to the recovery of four drums and two jerrycans filled with chemicals. Police said the chemicals, including acetone, toluene, bromo compounds and hydrochloric acid, were concealed in drums inside a Toyota Fortuner SUV. Officials noted the volatile nature of the substances posed a serious risk of fire or explosion. Given the hazardous nature of the substances, teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Narcotics Control Bureau were called in to examine the seized material.
Police also recovered equipment allegedly used in the extraction and preparation of narcotic substances, including pipes, a hand pump and an iron funnel. Eleven expensive mobile phones, including high-end iPhones, opium latex and two fake Gujarat registration number plates were also seized. Investigators said the consignment was sourced from Pali district and was meant to be delivered in Barmer. The accused are believed to have changed vehicles en route to evade police detection.
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act. Further investigation is underway to trace the wider network.
