Hyderabad: An inter-state drug racket busted in Telangana has revealed a wider network stretching beyond India’s borders. Investigators probing the illegal manufacture of mephedrone, popularly known as ‘meow meow’, found that a suspect linked to the case had allegedly shipped key precursor chemicals to Poland, prompting the EAGLE force to alert foreign authorities.This was part of an investigation into an illegal manufacturing unit in Shadnagar on the outskirts of Hyderabad from where 17 kg of the banned drug was seized. The information was conveyed to Poland through the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India’s nodal agency for drug-related international coordination.The suspect had transported the precursor 2 Bromo-4 methylpropiophenone to Poland in July 2025. The investigating team, comprising sleuths from EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), Drug Control Authority (DCA) and other agencies, had busted the racket earlier this month.“Presently, 2 Bromo-4 methylpropiophenone has no significant industrial demand. Along with this chemical, the suspect also shipped 2 Bromo+3 chloropropiophenone in the same consignment to Poland. Based on our investigation, we alerted the European authorities about the potential risk,” an officer in EAGLE told TOI.The precursor 2 Bromo+3 chloropropiophenone, when subjected to a chemical reaction, can lead to the formation of clophedrone, another designer drug. Except for limited use in manufacturing a specific antidepressant, these chemicals are largely prone to misuse in the illegal drug trade, experts said.Following proposals from various enforcement agencies, the Union govt brought 2 Bromo-4 methylpropiophenone under the list of regulated precursors from March 11. Until then, such unregulated consignments often ended up in the hands of illegal drug manufacturers who produced mephedrone and supplied it to peddlers, sources said.Investigators tracking buyers of these precursors received a tip-off some 15 days ago about the illegal manufacture of mephedrone at a house in Shadnagar. The drug was allegedly being transported to Rajasthan in two vehicles.Acting on an alert from EAGLE, Rajasthan police intercepted the vehicles and arrested a duo, Veerender Swamy and Manish Bishnoi, and seized 17 kg of mephedrone. Two other accused, along with the remaining consignment, are still absconding.Further investigation revealed the involvement of Manoj Kumar, a resident of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, who allegedly provided technical assistance to the arrested accused in manufacturing synthetic drugs using the supplied precursors.Officials said the probe also indicated that those supplying the precursor chemicals to the drug racket played a role in sending the consignment to Poland
