DRI's 'Operation Crystal Break' busts mephedrone factory in Bhopal; 61.2 kg seized
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence busted a clandestine mephedrone manufacturing unit at Jagdishpur (Islamnagar) in Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh on 16 August 2025, seizing 61.20 kg of liquid mephedrone worth ₹92 crore.
Summary
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in an operation code-named 'Operation Crystal Break', searched a clandestine facility at Gram-Jagdishpur (Islamnagar), Huzur tehsil, Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh on 16 August 2025 and seized 61.20 kg of mephedrone in liquid form valued at ₹92 crore in the illicit market. Two persons, including the chemist, were caught in the act; follow-up raids across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh led to further arrests at Basti, Mumbai and Surat, taking the total to seven, with the Surat and Mumbai police supporting the operation. Investigators found that raw materials were supplied from Bhiwandi and funds moved via hawala from Surat and Mumbai. Mephedrone is a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985, and this was the sixth clandestine mephedrone factory dismantled by the DRI in a year.
Key facts
- Raid
- 16 Aug 2025, Jagdishpur (Islamnagar), Bhopal, MP
- Operation
- Operation Crystal Break
- Seizure
- 61.20 kg liquid mephedrone, ₹92 crore
- Arrests
- Seven (Bhopal, Basti, Mumbai, Surat)
- Support
- Surat and Mumbai police
- Law
- Psychotropic substance under NDPS Act, 1985
- Record
- Sixth mephedrone factory dismantled by DRI in a year
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What was the code name of the DRI operation that busted a clandestine mephedrone factory in Bhopal in August 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Operation Crystal Break
The DRI busted the clandestine mephedrone manufacturing facility in Bhopal in a coordinated operation code-named 'Operation Crystal Break'.
How much mephedrone (in liquid form) did the DRI seize at the Bhopal facility on 16 August 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 61.20 kg
The search on 16 August 2025 led to the recovery and seizure of 61.20 kg of mephedrone in liquid form valued at ₹92 crore.
Consider the following statements about the DRI's Bhopal mephedrone case of August 2025: 1. Mephedrone is a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985. 2. It was the first clandestine mephedrone factory dismantled by the DRI in the past year. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: mephedrone is listed as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985. Statement 2 is incorrect: this was the sixth clandestine mephedrone factory dismantled by the DRI in the past one year.