The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has uncovered two illegal synthetic-drug laboratories operating from rented premises in Jahanabad Kadalpur village in Greater Noida, arresting two people and seizing material that could have produced around 56 kg of crystalline amphetamine, the agency said.
The NCB said the action was carried out on Friday and details were released on Saturday. The two locations were allegedly being used to manufacture and process synthetic drugs. Investigators recovered 379.740 kg of amphetamine-laced material and 10 kg of pseudoephedrine, according to the bureau.
The seized amphetamine material included 4.260 kg of crystalline substance, 157.700 kg of semi-crystalline material and 217.780 kg in liquid form. The NCB estimated that the material could have yielded approximately 56 kg of finished crystalline amphetamine, with an estimated illegal-market value of about Rs 45 crore.
The agency also found large quantities of chemicals and laboratory equipment at the premises. These included hydrochloric acid, acetone, toluene, sulphuric acid and potassium permanganate, along with heating equipment, glass reaction vessels, chemical storage drums, filtration equipment, weighing machines and respirators. The NCB said these chemicals are used in the production of methamphetamine.
The arrested individuals were identified as Destiny Abraham Dumbiri and Lallavumzuali, also known as Olivia Lalchawimawi, who is from Mizoram. The NCB said Dumbiri had identified himself as a Nigerian national. Immigration records, however, showed that he entered India in January 2020 under the name Francis Kalokoh as a Sierra Leonean citizen on a tourist visa valid until December 2020. The agency is examining whether different identities were used to mislead investigative authorities.
The NCB said Olivia had earlier been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence after 313 grams of heroin-laced powder was found in her checked-in baggage at Goa’s Dabolim Airport in March. She is currently out on bail in that case, according to the report.
The latest seizure follows another NCB operation in October 2024 in the Kasna industrial area of Gautam Buddh Nagar, where about 95.5 kg of synthetic drugs in solid and liquid form were seized from an alleged illegal laboratory. In the current case, investigators are examining financial transactions, chemical procurement and the supply network linked to the laboratories. They are also trying to identify those who financed the operation, supplied chemicals or provided technical assistance.
The bureau said it was examining possible interstate and international links and that more arrests could follow. It warned that chemical waste from illegal laboratories can contaminate soil, drains and water sources, creating risks to public health and the environment.
The NCB has asked landlords, property dealers, housing societies, resident welfare associations and security personnel to report suspicious activity in rented homes, industrial premises and other locations. It cited unusual chemical odours, repeated movement of chemical drums or laboratory equipment, and suspicious storage or disposal of chemical waste as warning signs. Information can be provided through the national narcotics helpline, MANAS-1933.
