The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : City of pearls turns `Mandrax capital'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

City of pearls turns `Mandrax capital'

By Vikram Sharma

The MDMA (popularly known as Ecstasy), Methaqualone and Methamphetamine tablets, which were seized from a laboratory at Bidar in Karnataka and a unit at Jeedimetla on the city outskirts. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD, MARCH 23. Hyderabad is well known for the delicious biryani and shiny pearls. But over the last couple of years, the city has gained notoriety as the country's `Methaqualone capital'.

The seizure of huge quantities of Methaqualone drug, popularly known as Mandrax, from places in and around Hyderabad over the last few years is indeed alarming. But what makes Hyderabad the `favourite' destination to manufacture the deadly drug?

Easy availability of chemicals in the pharmaceutical firms functioning on the city fringes appears to be the prime reason that makes Hyderabad the most preferred destination for non-locals to indulge in the trade. Easy to manufacture, no expertise required, low investment and 100 per cent profit -- only add to the list.

"There are at least a 1,000-odd pharmaceutical manufacturing companies functional on the city outskirts. Though the authorities concerned keep an eye on them and regularly check the tablets manufactured, it is very difficult to make out whether a particular tablet is Mandrax or an ordinary Paracetamol," informs an official dealing with narcotic substances.

Tough to differentiate

According to him, the composition of chemicals used in Paracetamol and Mandrax look similar. "Only on close scrutiny can one ascertain that it is Methaqualone," he says. The official says that with each passing year, those indulging in the trade come out with latest and sophisticated chemicals to manufacture Mandrax. Sources say the chemicals used in the preparation of the drug is procured from "legal sources," that is the pharmaceutical units.

Explains the official: "The reactors used in the pharma units for manufacturing tablets and Mandrax is one and the same.

In some cases, the owners of such units are making the usual tablets during daytime and manufacturing Mandrax during nights." Over the last few years, the authorities have seized several thousand kg of Methaqualone worth crores of rupees. Unlike the manufacturing of the "party drug" Ecstasy, manufacturing mandrax is easier and cheaper. "Mandrax mostly goes abroad, because it fetches huge money in the international market," officials say.

Besides Hyderabad, other places notorious for manufacturing Mandrax are south Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In some cases it was found that these illicit operations are financed and controlled by non-residents based outside India.

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