Ahmedabad, The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has arrested three persons for allegedly exporting analgesic drug etomidate, mislabelling it as aloe vera powder and a personal care ingredient.
The accused, Nikunj Gadhiya, Chetan Vavadiya, and Bhautik Padmani, were in touch with members of drug cartels in Malaysia and Thailand.
The action followed an input that certain individuals were exporting the analgesic drug to countries in Southeast Asia, where the substance is treated as a narcotic or psychotropic substance under local laws.
The trio exported the drug through air cargo from Mumbai airport by preparing fake bills, mislabelling the product and submitting forged customs clearance documents.
Etomidate powder is treated as a controlled or prohibited substance in several countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The accused mislabelled etomidate as aloe vera powder and tried to dispatch parcels to foreign countries through air cargo.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused admitted they were in contact with a Malaysian drug cartel member and other groups.
The ATS said that Gadhiya had exported around 50 kg of etomidate by disguising it as aloe vera powder, while Vavadiya sent nearly 50 kg of the drug by labelling it as 'Ginopol-24 powder', a personal care ingredient.
