Nagpur: In an operation reminiscent of the infamous television series Breaking Bad, a 35-member team from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) uncovered Nagpur's first mephedrone (MD) drug manufacturing unit in Pachpaoli, following an 18-hour raid on Saturday. The unit, operating in secrecy, was busted without even notifying the local Pachpaoli police.
Much like the fictional methamphetamine empire built by Walter White, the mastermind in Breaking Bad, this narcotics lab had evolved into a key supplier of the deadly synthetic stimulant across major cities in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, and various parts of Vidarbha. The discovery of this illicit drug lab came after DRI’s extensive investigations into drug cartels operating in Mumbai and Pune. Officials reportedly interrogated several peddlers and suppliers, scrutinizing their phone records, which ultimately led them to this hidden operation in Nagpur.
The raid, which took place in the Vaishali Nagar area, resulted in the arrest of Aakash Nimje and three other suspects connected to the manufacturing and distribution network. According to sources, the DRI team confiscated a range of items, including cell phones, equipment, chemical compounds, pharmaceutical literature, diaries, and other crucial materials related to the drug production.
Investigations revealed that, akin to the meticulous methods shown in Breaking Bad, the racketeers behind the Nagpur unit might have used videos available on social media platforms to refine their techniques in manufacturing the in-demand and highly dangerous drug.
This operation highlights the growing sophistication and reach of narcotics manufacturing and trafficking networks in India, drawing eerie parallels to the fictional depiction of drug empires, now becoming a stark reality on Indian soil.