Hyderabad: The State police’s Eagle team carried out a major operation on Saturday, targeting illegal drug production in Bowenpally. They uncovered an Alprazolam lab within an old school, seizing 7 kg of the drug and Rs 20 lakh in cash.
The hidden lab spanned the principal’s office and two classrooms of the abandoned school. Officers found machines and tools used to produce Alprazolam, a prescription medication often misused for its calming effects.
The raid, prompted by a tip-off, resulted in the arrest of three individuals. Malela Jaya Prakash Goud, aged 39 from Old Bowenpally, was identified as the mastermind. Two others, 23-year-old Goute Murali from Hasmathpet and 23-year-old Uday, were also apprehended.
Goud had taken over the closed school, secretly transforming it into a drug production site. He reportedly used the principal’s office and other school areas for this purpose. To avoid suspicion, he held tuition classes in the evenings.
The investigation revealed that the drug network extended beyond Hyderabad into Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Among the items seized were four reactors and various chemicals crucial for the manufacturing process.
This successful raid marks a significant achievement in the Telangana Police’s fight against drug trafficking, impacting the Secunderabad drug network heavily. Investigations continue, focusing on the former school principal’s involvement and other associates.
Authorities stress the dangers of misusing drugs like Alprazolam obtained illegally, underlining the serious threats to public health and safety.
