Mandsaur Police Uncover Major MD Drug Manufacturing Unit in Garoth Village
In a significant late-night operation on Saturday, Mandsaur police successfully busted a major MD (Mephedrone) drug manufacturing facility operating from a house built on an agricultural field in Surjana village, Garoth. The raid led to the seizure of approximately 12.5 kilograms of crude MD chemical mixture, with an estimated international market value of around Rs 12 crore.
Detailed Seizure and Manufacturing Setup
During the meticulously planned operation, officers discovered two individuals actively manufacturing MD drugs on-site. The suspects were utilizing a steel vessel containing a potent chemical mixture with a strong odor, which they were churning using a machine typically employed for making buttermilk. This unconventional equipment choice highlights the resourcefulness of illicit drug manufacturers.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nimish Agarwal provided a comprehensive breakdown of the seized materials:
- 102 grams of finished MD drug
- 12.61 kilograms of chemical mixture intended for MD production
- 3.54 kilograms of transparent liquid substance
- 680 grams of white chemical powder used in drug manufacturing
The police also confiscated various equipment essential to the operation, including a gas cylinder, centrifuge machine, stove furnace, multiple steel utensils, electric wiring, an earthing rod, and two mobile phones.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
The arrested individuals have been identified as Deepak Sikligar (32) and Sumit Sikligar (19), both local residents of the area. Authorities have registered a formal case against them under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which carries severe penalties for drug manufacturing and trafficking offenses.
DIG Agarwal emphasized that this bust resulted from an ongoing, intensive crackdown targeting synthetic drug manufacturing networks throughout the Malwa region. Interrogation of the accused is currently underway, with investigators revealing that the chemicals were sourced through an organized supply network now under intense scrutiny.
Broader Network Connections and Investigation
According to police statements, the arrested suspects had been active in the illegal drug trade for nearly two years, establishing the Garoth unit only recently. During questioning related to earlier cases, including a previous factory bust in Chiklana near Ratlam, investigators learned that manufacturing knowledge and techniques were systematically shared within this criminal network.
The list of chemicals recovered in the current Garoth operation is expected to match substances previously identified during the Chiklana investigation, suggesting connections between multiple manufacturing units operating across different locations.
Expanding Anti-Drug Campaign and Financial Actions
Police authorities confirmed that their campaign against such drug manufacturing gangs has been active for an extended period and will now expand to target interconnected groups operating across multiple districts. Coordination is already underway with law enforcement agencies in Pratapgarh and nearby areas as part of a comprehensive effort to dismantle the growing MD network in the Malwa region, where circulation of synthetic drugs has increased sharply in recent times.
In addition to criminal proceedings, authorities are implementing financial measures under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) to freeze assets linked to drug proceeds. Orders have already been issued in connection with some suspects, and in cases where habitual offenders continue illegal activities despite multiple First Information Reports (FIRs), preventive detention proceedings under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act have been initiated.
This coordinated approach combining criminal investigation, financial scrutiny, and preventive detention represents a multi-pronged strategy to combat the sophisticated drug manufacturing networks that have established operations in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh.
