Mau (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 11: The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has dismantled a clandestine laboratory manufacturing mephedrone (MD) in the Tajopur Industrial Area of Mau district under its Operation Vajra 3.0, the agency said in a release reported on Wednesday.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

Acting on specific intelligence developed by the CBN's Madhya Pradesh unit, a joint team of the CBN MP Unit and CBN UP Unit conducted a coordinated operation on November 8, 2026 and identified and busted an active clandestine synthetic drug manufacturing facility, according to the release. The CBN described the action as part of an operation against an interstate synthetic drug network.

11.7 kgMephedrone recovered at different processing stages
20.9 kgKey precursor 2-bromo-4-methylpropiophenone seized
2Persons arrested under the NDPS Act
6Clandestine labs busted by CBN in 2026 so far

Precursors, chemicals and full lab dismantled

Alongside the 11.7 kg of mephedrone, the team seized 20.9 kg of 2-bromo-4-methylpropiophenone, a key precursor used in mephedrone manufacture, 3.5 kg of acetic anhydride and approximately 119.9 kg/L of various chemicals, solvents and processing reagents, including dichloromethane, hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and organic amines.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse

The complete laboratory infrastructure was seized and dismantled, comprising industrial grinders and mixers, steel tanks and vessels, heating equipment, glass reaction and distillation apparatus, temperature-measuring devices, voltage balancers, other equipment used for illicit manufacture, and personal protective equipment.

Two persons involved in the illicit manufacturing network were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985, the release said. The arrests are allegations at this stage; no conviction has been reported. The CBN said that during 2026 so far it has busted six clandestine laboratories, with seizures totalling 130.2 kg of mephedrone and 1,465.4 kg/L of precursor chemicals.

Source: Newzville (CBN release)