Three people, including a father-son duo, have been arrested in Chennai after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 50 kg of pseudoephedrine worth about Rs 1 crore, an NCB official said on Friday, according to IANS.

Source: IANS via Hi India

The seizure was made at MKB Nagar, Annai Indra Nagar, during a crackdown carried out on Thursday at a factory making plastic bottles and boxes under the name AN Enterprises. The NCB's Chennai Zonal Unit inspected the premises on November 12, Malayalam Daily News also reported.

The 50 kg of pseudoephedrine was concealed in two gunny bags, each containing 25 kg of the substance, the NCB said in its statement.

Sourced from Hyderabad, meant for export

Preliminary investigation found that the consignment was sourced from Hyderabad and was intended to be exported for the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine, the official said. Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are precursor chemicals that can be diverted for making methamphetamine, a highly addictive psychotropic substance, the bureau noted.

The NCB said further investigation is under way to establish the roles of the individuals involved and to identify the source and intended destination of the seized consignment. The bureau reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug-trafficking networks and combating the illicit diversion of precursor chemicals.

No names of the arrested persons were given in the NCB statement carried by the wires. Awaaz Punjab will update this story if the bureau releases further details.