Surat Chemist Allegedly Manufactured Banned Mephedrone to Repay Forex Losses, Held

According to the probe, Bhalodiya came in contact with Janak Jagani, alleged to be the mastermind of the drug racket and currently believed to be based in London. To clear a debt of nearly ₹4 lakh owed to Jagani, Bhalodiya allegedly agreed to manufacture mephedrone. Police said he used his technical knowledge as a chemist to produce the banned substance and sent part of the proceeds to the overseas handler.

During the investigation, police found that the accused allegedly stole precursor chemicals from his employer’s factory, discreetly smuggling them out concealed in everyday items, including his tiffin box. These chemicals were then used to manufacture high-purity mephedrone at a private facility. The case came to light during a wider probe into an illegal MD laboratory that was earlier unearthed inside a mall in Surat, leading to multiple arrests and seizures of drugs and raw materials.

The investigation also brought Isha Anghan, head of Dkria Food and Pharma Analytical Laboratory, under the scanner. She allegedly allowed the use of her laboratory premises for drug production without proper verification. Police are examining her role, financial transactions and communications to determine her involvement in the illegal operation.

According to a recent media report in The Times of India, officials of the Special Operations Group (SOG) are continuing their investigation to trace the entire supply chain, including the overseas links, and to identify others involved in the manufacture and distribution of the banned drug.

Authorities have stated that further arrests are likely as the probe progresses, with a focus on dismantling the organised network behind the illegal drug manufacturing activities in the region.