UP Police Seize 498 Kg Acetic Anhydride Worth ₹1.25 Crore, Four Held in NDPS Case

In a major anti-narcotics operation, a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and the Shahi police seized 498.35 kilograms of acetic anhydride, a controlled precursor chemical valued at over ₹1.25 crore, in Bareilly district on Sunday. Four persons were detained in connection with the case, police said.

The detained individuals have been identified as Jogesh, Tejpal, Arun and Wasid. An FIR has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is underway.

Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma said the operation targeted a gang allegedly involved in supplying acetic anhydride, a key precursor chemical used in the illegal manufacture of heroin. During the operation, police also seized a pickup vehicle, a Renault car, and four mobile phones from the accused.

According to police, one of the accused, Jogesh, had previously been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Lucknow, in a similar case and had served a jail term.

Acetic anhydride is a regulated industrial chemical with legitimate applications in the pharmaceutical, textile and chemical industries. However, it is also an essential precursor in the illicit processing of opium or morphine into heroin, making it a critical target for drug trafficking networks. Since high-grade heroin production is extremely difficult without this chemical, authorities closely monitor its manufacture, storage, transport and sale to prevent diversion into illegal channels.

Under the NDPS Act and related regulatory provisions governing precursor chemicals, the production, possession, distribution and movement of such substances are subject to strict oversight. Law enforcement agencies regularly monitor suspicious transactions and take action against individuals or networks attempting to divert controlled chemicals for narcotics manufacturing.

Police said efforts are now focused on identifying the forward and backward linkages of the supply chain to uncover suppliers, transporters, financiers and intended recipients. Officials said dismantling these networks is crucial to disrupting the availability of precursor chemicals, weakening illegal drug manufacturing operations and curbing the broader narcotics trade.