3 held in Noida for producing chemical used to make heroin

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested the director of a dye manufacturing company along with an Afghan national and one associate for making acetic anhydride which is used in making heroin. The sleuths seized 9,650 litres of acetic anhydride worth several crore from a dye factory in Noida. The accused have been identified as Prateek Shukla, Himanshu Rana and Sameruddin.

Officials from the narcotics department said that the chemical is used to manufacture dye, but drug peddlers use the acetic anhydride chemical to manufacture high quality heroin. As per the law, dye manufacturers can procure this chemical in a limited quantity, provided the NCB is provided details records of purchase and quantity of the chemical.

A senior official from the narcotics department said the chemical was stored in big drums. "It was labelled as 'Lubricant oil' which raised our doubts. On interrogation it was revealed that the chemical was supposed to be sold in parts of Ghaziabad, where the purchaser would manufacture heroin with chemical," said the official.

A team of NCB sleuths raided a few locations in Noida and Ghaziabad for over four days, which led to the seizure, said an official from the bureau. The chemical is sold for Rs 5,000-6,000 per litre in the Indian market and at a higher price in the international market.

The NCB is investigating how the dye unit got the chemical as the law prohibits purchase without due licenses.