Gujarat ATS Crackdown: Seizure of 22 Kg Etomidate Disguised as Aloe Vera at Mumbai Airport

The Gujarat ATS seized 22 kg of etomidate disguised as aloe vera powder at Mumbai airport, stopping an illegal export to Malaysia. Etomidate is a narcotic in Southeast Asia. Three men from Surat were arrested for their involvement in exporting the drug using fake labels and documents.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has seized 22 kg of the analgesic drug etomidate at Mumbai airport, officials announced on Tuesday. The substance, camouflaged as aloe vera powder, was seized while being illegally exported to Malaysia through air cargo.

This significant seizure follows the arrest of three Surat residents, suspected of orchestrating the operation. As highlighted by The Lancet Journal, etomidate's misuse is on the rise, appealing to adolescents due to its rapid dissociative effects and inconspicuous vaping possibilities. In the foreign market, the drug fetches between USD 4,000 to 5,000 per kilogram, the ATS reported.

Investigations revealed that the accused, Nikunj Gadhiya, Chetan Vavadiya, and Bhautik Padmani, fraudulently exported the drug to Southeast Asia. Authorities inspected office records, confirming the drug's mislabeling as aloe vera. Seizures at Mumbai airport further substantiated these claims, with significant quantities identified and confiscated.

(With inputs from agencies.)