In a major crackdown on interstate drug trafficking, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in coordination with the Ahmedabad Police, has seized banned Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets worth approximately ₹8.32 crore from a luxury bus travelling from Gujarat to Rajasthan. The prime accused, Paresh Parsmal Jain, was later arrested from Udaipur in Rajasthan. Investigators believe the seizure could expose a much larger interstate narcotics trafficking network.
According to investigators, a search operation conducted on an MR Travels luxury bus in Ahmedabad’s Shahibaug area led to the recovery of more than 208,000 banned Tramadol tablets packed inside 416 cartons. Preliminary findings revealed that the bus was travelling from Ankleshwar in Gujarat to Pali in Rajasthan.
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The main accused allegedly fled the scene during the operation but was subsequently apprehended from the Gogunda area of Udaipur district. During interrogation, he reportedly disclosed that since May he had supplied more than 6.2 million Tramadol tablets to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Investigators further revealed that the accused has previously been linked to cases involving the trafficking of prohibited pharmaceutical drugs and narcotic substances. He had earlier been arrested in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra in connection with illegal cough syrup cases. Authorities are also examining his alleged involvement in last month’s seizure of around 2.5 kilograms of Mephedrone in Vapi, a case in which four other accused had already been arrested.
Investigating agencies are now working to trace the origin of the seized consignment, identify its intended recipients and uncover the full extent of the trafficking network. Financial transactions, supply chain records and digital evidence recovered during the investigation are also being examined.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh said organised drug trafficking networks are increasingly relying on encrypted communication platforms, fake identities and digital financial channels to evade law enforcement. He stressed that investigations into such cases should go beyond the physical seizure of contraband and include forensic analysis of digital devices, banking trails, mobile data and communication networks to dismantle the entire criminal ecosystem.
Officials said the interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing, and further leads are being pursued to identify other associates operating across multiple states. Investigators believe the ongoing probe may lead to significant breakthroughs in exposing the wider interstate drug trafficking syndicate.
