PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 10 -- Investigations into the bust of a synthetic drug manufacturing unit in Kosara Kala village, Manda, have revealed that the accused leased agricultural land under the pretext of developing a plant nursery while allegedly operating an illegal MDMA (Methylene Dioxy Methamphetamine) manufacturing unit for months.

The factory was unearthed on September 4 by the Mumbai crime branch during an interstate crackdown on a drug trafficking network spanning Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Officials recovered 52.935 kg of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or molly, along with around 260 liters of chemicals and sophisticated laboratory equipment. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth approximately Rs.139 crore in th...