The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the state seized 500 kg of Tramadol, an opioid painkiller often referred to as the ‘fighter drug’, from a warehouse in Dholka, Ahmedabad. The haul, valued at an estimated ₹50 crore, marks one of the largest seizures of the drug since its classification as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2018.
The raid was the culmination of intelligence gathered during an earlier operation in Anand district on January 24, where the ATS had uncovered 107 kg of Alprazolam worth ₹107 crore at Greenlife Industries in Neja village in Khambhat taluka. Alongside the drugs, ₹30 lakh in cash was seized, and six suspects were arrested. During the investigation, one of the accused, Ranjit Dabhi, revealed the existence of a larger consignment of Tramadol stored in warehouse No. 54 at Devam Industries Estate in Dholka.
Acting on this tip, an ATS team conducted a raid on the Dholka warehouse and discovered approximately 49,800 boxes containing Tramadol, along with 6 km of packaging foil rolls. Investigators estimate that the drug had been stored in the warehouse for over eight months.
Tramadol has earned notoriety as the ‘fighter drug’ due to reports of its use by ISIS fighters to endure extended periods of combat. The psychotropic substance has a history of abuse, particularly in regions where it is smuggled and consumed illicitly. Its export is strictly regulated under the NDPS Act.
“This seizure is a major breakthrough in our efforts to dismantle the illegal drug trade in Gujarat. The consignment was likely intended for export to West African nations such as Sierra Leone and Niger, though this is still under investigation,” said K Siddharth, Superintendent of Police, Gujarat ATS.
Preliminary findings suggest that Dabhi had rented the warehouse exclusively for storing the contraband. The drugs were reportedly manufactured elsewhere and brought to the warehouse to be sold in the black market. However, ATS operations in August 2024, which resulted in the seizure of 1,410 litres of liquid Tramadol—a precursor used in the production of Tramadol —from a pharmaceutical facility in Dahej, had significantly disrupted Dabhi’s plans to offload the consignment.
Officials believe Dabhi had refrained from selling the drugs following increased scrutiny from law enforcement. “The consignment remained unsold due to the risk of detection. ATS operations kept a close tab on potential transactions, which likely forced the accused to store the drugs temporarily,” Siddharth added.
The investigation is now focusing on identifying the source of the Tramadol and tracing the network involved in its manufacture, storage, and distribution. The ATS is also probing the possibility of additional undisclosed batches being stored or sold by Dabhi in the past.