NEW DELHI: In a significant crackdown on illicit drugs network in Delhi-NCR, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted two clandestine synthetic-drug manufacturing laboratories in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, seizing a huge haul of Methamphetamine worth around Rs 50 crores, precursors and manufacturing equipment.Union home minister Amit Shah termed the operation as a ‘major milestone’. “It is a remarkable example of intelligence-led enforcement and a testament to our commitment to eliminating drug cartels before December 2029,” he said in a post on X.The raid, conducted under Op Crystal Hunt on Oct 16 2026 at village Jahanabad Kadalpur in Gautam Buddha Nagar, led to the recovery of nearly 380 kg of amphetamine-containing material— encompassing crystalline, semi-crystalline, and liquid forms — alongside 10 kg of pseudoephedrine and large quantities of precursor chemicals such as acetone, toluene, and hydrochloric acid.
recovery of nearly 380 kg of amphetamine-containing material— encompassing crystalline, semi-crystalline, and liquid forms
According to officials, the seized materials are projected to yield over 56 kg of finished crystalline amphetamine. The premises were heavily equipped with large-capacity heating mantles, glass reaction vessels, filtration machinery, and laboratory apparatus tailored for mass production.Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the operation. One suspect identified himself as Destiny Abraham Dumbiri, a Nigerian national. However, immigration checks revealed he entered India in January 2020 under the alias Francis Kalokoh using a tourist visa that expired in December of that year, underscoring the sophisticated tactics used by traffickers to evade law enforcement.The second accused, Ms Lallawmzuali, alias Olivia Lalchawimawii, a resident of Mizoram, was out on bail following an earlier arrest in March 2026 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Goa for allegedly possessing a commercial quantity of heroin.
The premises were heavily equipped with large-capacity heating mantles, glass reaction vessels, filtration machinery, and laboratory apparatus tailored for mass production.
This latest operation builds upon the NCB’s ongoing efforts to dismantle organized cartels, echoing a previous October 2024 raid in the Kasna Industrial Area that exposed suspected ties to the Mexican cartel Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.
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Investigators are tracing the financial trails, chemical procurement channels, and broader distribution networks associated with the arrested pair to uncover further interstate and international links.Beyond the direct threat of narcotics, authorities emphasized the severe environmental and public health hazards posed by such hidden facilities, noting that the untreated discharge of chemical waste severely contaminates local soil, drainage systems, and water bodies.The NCB has issued a strong public appeal urging landlords, property dealers, housing societies, and Resident Welfare Associations to remain vigilant. “Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious indicators such as unusual chemical odors, unexplained storage of drums, or heavy lab equipment to the National Narcotics Helpline MANAS at 1933, reinforcing the nation’s collective stride toward a Nasha Mukt Bharat,” the NCB said.
