Hyderabad, May 12: More than 20 kg of psychotropic substance, reportedly used in adulteration of toddy was seized by excise officials in the city on Wednesday.
On credible information, the excise and prohibition department officials conducted searches at two places in Hafeeznagar and Champapet and seized the psychotropic substance. One woman was arrested while her husband and son, who are dealing with procuring and sale of the substance are absconding.
During a raid on the house of B Punyavathi at Hafeeznagar, excise officials seized 19.650 kg of Alprazolam and a subsequent raid on her son, Suresh Goud’s house at Champapet yielded another 900 gm of the substance. A total of 20.550 kg Alprazolam was seized worth `10 lakh, officials said.
Excise and prohibition Hyderabad range assistant commissioner AVV Satyanarayana Murthy said the psychotropic substance is used in adulteration of toddy. “Though the sale of toddy is prohibited in the city, it is sold in neighbouring Rangareddy and Mahaboobnagar districts,” Satyanarayana Murthy said. According to officials, the accused were purchasing the substance from Gujarat and Maharasthra and selling to toddy owners in Mahaboobnagar.
A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 has been registered. Punyavathi’s husband, Ramachandraiah and Suresh are absconding.
–Agencies