India, Dec. 10 -- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday busted a clandestine factory manufacturing mephedrone or MD in Vidarbha's Wardha district and seized 128 kilogrammes of the synthetic narcotic, estimated to be worth Rs.192 crore in the grey market. The agency arrested three accused persons, including the alleged mastermind who ran the factory's illicit operations both as financier and chemist.

DRI sources on Tuesday told HT that the operation, internally known as 'Operation Hinterland Brew', happened on Sunday and Monday. "Apart from the 128 kg of mephedrone, the DRI also seized 245 kg of precursor chemicals used in the drug's synthesis, other raw material and a complete processing set-up from the factory," said a...