Hyderabad: Telangana’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) is investigating how a private school in Secunderabad was converted into a narcotics manufacturing hub.
Officials said the premises of Medha High School in Bowenpally were being used to produce Alprazolam, a prescription sedative frequently misused as an intoxicant.
During a raid on Saturday, EAGLE teams seized 3.5 kg of Alprazolam, 4.3 kg of semi-finished Alprazolam, ₹21 lakh in cash, believed to be proceeds from two days’ sales, large quantities of raw material and manufacturing equipment.
Three people were arrested, including the alleged mastermind, 39-year-old Malela Jaya Prakash Goud, a Mahabubnagar resident and director of Medha High School. The other accused are P. Uday Sai, 23, a driver, and G. Murali Sai, a transporter.
Investigators revealed the school, which had about 130 students up to Class 7, was used as a front to evade suspicion. While the cellar of the building housed classrooms, the ground floor accommodated a bank, and part of the first floor was also used for teaching.
Goud, a former toddy shop operator in Mahabubnagar, allegedly came into contact with Guruva Reddy, who introduced him to Alprazolam manufacturing. He reportedly paid ₹2 lakh for the production formula and set up the facility in the back portion of the school building, distributing the drug to toddy depots in Boothpur and nearby areas of Mahabubnagar district for mixing with toddy.
Police said Goud’s employees assisted in the operation, which had been running for about a year. Acting on credible intelligence, EAGLE raided the premises, apprehended the accused and seized evidence. Officials are now questioning the trio to identify others involved in the supply chain, including those providing chemicals.
Alprazolam and other sedatives are often mixed with toddy to enhance its effect. The sedative was found in samples after adulterated toddy killed nine people and left 50 others ill in Hyderabad’s Kukatpally area in July, officials said.
With IANS inputs