Two persons were arrested for allegedly manufacturing mephedrone at a clandestine unit in Abdullapurmet by the EAGLE Force, Hyderabad Narcotics Police Station, Abdullapurmet police and the Clues team on Thursday, June 11.
The accused were identified as Keesari Matsyagiri, a businessman from Thirumalagiri in Suryapet district, and Nimmala Naresh, from Mothkur in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. Police said 750 grams of mephedrone valued at ₹50 lakh was seized from them near Batasingaram Road in Abdullapurmet. This apart, chemicals, equipment and a Hyundai i20 car together valued at ₹50 lakh were also seized.
According to investigators, Matsyagiri has a criminal history spanning more than a decade and is suspected to be associated with a drug manufacturing network operating across multiple States. Police said he had earlier worked as a chemist in Bacharam village, Abdullapurmet, where he allegedly learnt the process of manufacturing mephedrone after coming into contact with members of a drug syndicate.
Investigators said the syndicate had been involved in setting up illegal drug manufacturing units in different parts of the country since 2015. The group allegedly operated factories in Gujarat, Haryana and Telangana and had previously faced action by various law enforcement agencies.
Police said Matsyagiri was earlier arrested in connection with a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence case in which 136 kg of mephedrone was seized from a laboratory in the city in December 2022. A detention order under the PITNDPS Act was also issued against him in July 2023.
After being released, Matsyagiri allegedly returned to drug manufacturing and, with the assistance of Naresh, procured a Hyundai i20 vehicle for transporting chemicals and finished products. The duo allegedly approached a watchman at a mango farm in Mothkur and rented an asbestos shed under the pretext of manufacturing facial glow powder.
Investigators said the precursor chemicals and laboratory equipment were transported to the shed, where mephedrone was manufactured over five days. The process allegedly yielded around 2 kg of crude mephedrone, which was later refined to produce 750 grams of the final product.
Police said the two accused were intercepted on the intervening night of June 10 and June 11 while allegedly shifting the drug from the shed to Suryapet for sale. Three mobile phones were also seized during the operation.
Officials said efforts were continuing to trace and apprehend other suspected members of the network, including individuals identified as Vijay, Santosh and Prabhakar, who are alleged to have assisted in the procurement of chemicals and equipment.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
Published – June 12, 2026 07:02 pm IST
