Telangana's EAGLE Force Smashes Inter-State Synthetic Drug Ring; Secret Lab Found in Maharashtra
Telangana's EAGLE Force uncovers a clandestine drug lab in Maharashtra and busts a massive synthetic drug network. 11 arrested, 13 absconding.
In a massive crackdown on the illegal narcotics trade, Telangana's elite EAGLE Force has dismantled a sophisticated inter-State synthetic drug network. The operation has exposed a complex web of chemical suppliers, laboratory operators, and distributors stretching across Telangana, Maharashtra, and other Indian states, culminating in the discovery of a hidden manufacturing facility.
The Breakthrough: A Highway Interception
The unraveling of this criminal empire began on August 8, 2026, when the Bibi Nagar Police acted on a lead and intercepted a white SUV traveling from Kondamadugu toward Nagpur. The search yielded a significant haul: 27.2 kg of mephedrone and 56.98 kg of acetone.
Three individuals—Chetan Madhukar Meshram, Mujammel Hoque, and Akash Ashok Gawande—were apprehended on the spot. Following the registration of a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the investigation was handed over to the EAGLE Force due to the clear inter-State nature of the syndicate.
Uncovering the 'Chemical Web'
As the EAGLE Force dug deeper, they uncovered a network of labs and procurement channels. The investigation pointed toward several key locations:
- Vetukuri Labs in Kondamadugu, Telangana.
- SM Labs in Moula Ali, Hyderabad.
- A clandestine unit operating secretly in Maharashtra.
Investigators focused on the diversion of precursor chemicals, specifically propionyl chloride, which is essential for the synthesis of illegal drugs. The syndicate was allegedly involved in the production of not only mephedrone but also alprazolam and ephedrine.
The Poultry Farm Front
A major victory was achieved on October 17, when the EAGLE Force tracked the network to a surprising location: a poultry farm in Maregaon village, Tiroda taluk, within Maharashtra's Gondia district. Upon raiding the premises at Survey No. 92/2, officials discovered chemical-processing apparatus and remnants of narcotics, confirming it as a clandestine drug lab.
The Maharashtra Police were alerted, and a separate case was registered locally to handle the facility's seizure.
Key Arrests and the 'Supplier'
On the same day the lab was discovered, the EAGLE Force arrested Jairaj Krishna Shetty, the alleged owner of JSV Globals in Vasai, Maharashtra. Shetty is suspected of being a critical link in the chain, providing the precursor chemical propionyl chloride to Chetan Madhukar Meshram and his associates.
The investigation also highlighted the role of Penumatsa Rakesh Varma, owner of Vetukuri Labs. Records indicate that Varma had already been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Indore on July 23, 2026, in a separate proceeding and is currently lodged in Chhindwara Jail.
The Accused: Arrested and Absconding
The wider investigation has identified a total of 24 individuals involved in the operation. 11 persons are currently arrested or in custody:
- Saddam Hussain
- Jairaj Krishna Shetty
- Penumatsa Rakesh Varma
- Chetan Madhukar Meshram (alias Akash Satyanarayan Shahu)
- Mujammel Hoque
- Akash Ashok Gawande
- Upadrasthra Ramana Murthy
- Kasani Srinivas
- Chaganti Veera Venkata Lakshmi Kumar
- Gopal Sirpat Patelia
- Lal Singh
However, the hunt continues for 13 others who remain absconding, including Ayub Ali, Chandra Pradeep Thakur, Yeatukuri Ramaraju, Priya Chetan Meshram (alias Priya Bhanudasji Kadu), Nishtha Hiralal Gharde (alias Nishitha Akash Shahu), Ekramul Hussain, Firdus Ahmed, Moinul Haque, Mafidul Islam, Kishan Singh (alias Darbar Singh), Tufan Singh, Peddireddy Ramu, and Fadh Fayaz Shaikh.
The EAGLE Force is continuing its investigation to track down the remaining fugitives and fully map out the distribution channels of this synthetic drug network.