India, Jan. 26 -- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a mobile mephedrone manufacturing laboratory operating in the Sahyadri ranges under Operation Sahyadri Checkmate, officials said on Sunday. Around 22 kg of the banned drug was seized, and five persons were arrested.

Acting on specific intelligence, officials traced a camouflaged drug unit functioning under the cover of a poultry farm. The laboratory was designed to evade detection by frequently shifting locations.

On Saturday, the agency dismantled the makeshift but fully operational lab used to manufacture mephedrone, prohibited under the NDPS Act.

Officials seized 21.912 kg of mephedrone-11.848 kg in liquid form, 9.326 kg in semi-liquid form and 738 grams in c...