Punjab police seize drugs; Ludhiana manufacturer booked

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Gurpreet Deo (C), ADGP (STF), addressing the media after tramadol tablets were confiscated from Bathinda, in Mohali on Tuesday.

Chandigarh, July 16: After Amritsar-manufactured pain-killer drug, Tramadol, was found used by ISIS militants in Syria, another major drug haul has been made by the Punjab police. 

The Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police against drugs on Tuesday seized about 10 lakh tramadol tablets from Bathinda.

The opioid-based tablets are a schedule H drug under the NDPS Act and used as a painkiller, but can be sold only on prescription.

According to information, a Ludhiana-based manufacturer described as a serial defaulter in category of illegal manufacturing of the tablets has been booked after the recovery of the tablets.

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STF Punjab head Gurpreet Deo addresses the media after tramadol tablets were seized  

Says the operation was carried out by the Bathinda Police

The gang had links in Zirakpur, Ludhiana and Delhi

The main kingpin, Pradeep Goyal, had supplied about 70 lakh tablets in the past few months

He had a wholesale drug firm called AP medical store at Pinki Gali, Ludhiana

The licence of the firm was cancelled in 2007 after which he formed a new firm, Jai Maa Medical Store

Later, again after getting caught in 2018, he formed another firm, platinum health care in the name of a Solan resident

Says tramadol is sold at about Rs 5.50 per tablet, but when sold illegally it costs Rs 5-6 per tablet