Overview
- Acting on intelligence, NCB teams intercepted a Karnataka‑registered Toyota Fortuner at Palsana in Surat on January 28 and recovered about 35 kg of mephedrone.
- Subsequent searches at alleged kingpin Mahendra Kumar Vishnoi’s Palsana residence turned up 1.8 kg of opium, Rs 25.6 lakh in cash and chemicals, with assistance from Surat Police.
- Investigators traced a rented unit in Mysuru’s Hebbal Industrial Area operating under a cleaning‑chemicals cover and sealed it for forensic examination, citing over 500 kg of chemicals and narcotics worth roughly Rs 10 crore.
- Four suspects from Rajasthan’s Jalore district, including Vishnoi, were arrested, and the NCB describes the alleged mastermind as a repeat NDPS offender who moved into synthetic drug manufacture after jail exposure.
- Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said state police reported no recoveries in Mysuru and promised to verify the facts, while the BJP demanded accountability and warned of protests.