NCB Freezes 25 Properties Worth ₹20 Crore in Massive Drug Racket
NCB Chandigarh freezes properties worth Rs 20 crore linked to a massive inter-state pharmaceutical drug diversion racket across seven states.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, has dealt a heavy financial blow to a sophisticated inter-state pharmaceutical drug diversion network. In a major crackdown, the agency has secured the freezing of 25 immovable properties valued at approximately ₹20.10 crore, targeting the financial backbone of a syndicate that illegally distributed psychotropic medicines across seven different states.
The Financial Crackdown
The confirmation of the freezing order was issued on October 30, 2026, by the Competent Authority under the SAFEM (FOP) and NDPS Acts in New Delhi, acting under Section 68F(2) of the NDPS Act, 1985. These assets, with a total invested value of ₹20,10,51,211, were first flagged and frozen by the NCB on October 2, 2026, during an intensive financial probe.
According to the NCB, the investigation uncovered a trail of "drug money." The proceeds generated from the illegal sale of diverted medicines were funneled through the bank accounts of firms under investigation. These funds were then laundered to purchase various properties registered in the names of the accused individuals and their family members.
Assets Under the Hammer
The frozen assets are diverse and located in prime areas, including:
- Industrial plots and commercial units.
- Shop-cum-office spaces.
- Residential apartments.
Specific locations mentioned in the crackdown include Gillco Industrial Park, Mohali City Centre-3, Mohali City Centre Walk, Janta Industrial Estate, Galaxy Heights-2, and Queenstown. Under the current order, the owners are strictly prohibited from transferring or dealing with these properties without explicit prior permission.
How the Racket Unraveled
The entire case traces back to February 7, 2025, when a seizure of 5,000 Tramadol tablets in Amritsar sparked the investigation. Upon inspecting the packaging, the NCB identified JR Pharmaceuticals from Haridwar as the manufacturer and Tiwari Medical Agencies from Dehradun as the marketer.
What started as a single seizure evolved into the discovery of a sprawling network. The NCB's investigation has since led to the recovery of a staggering amount of illegal substances, including:
- Approximately 34 lakh psychotropic tablets.
- 10.57 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
- 50,000 Tramadol ampoules.
- 5,000 Midazolam vials.
- Around 2,200 kg of psychotropic powder, including raw materials and formulations.
A Seven-State Network
The scale of the operation was immense, with the syndicate operating across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. To date, the NCB has arrested 17 individuals linked to this operation.
The agency stated that this action is part of a "network-centric approach." Rather than just stopping the supply of drugs, the NCB is now focusing on dismantling the financial ecosystem that allows such illegal trafficking to thrive.
The NCB has urged the public to assist in the fight against narcotics by sharing information via the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline at the toll-free number 1933, promising that the identity of all informants will be kept strictly confidential.