The Special Task Force of the Prohibition and Excise department, along with officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a drug racketeer in Hyderabad on Friday, who was working as an event manager.
The accused identified as A Piyush, was a resident of Marredpally, and drugs worth several lakh rupees were seized from him.
Speaking to the media, Excise Deputy Commissioner C. Vivekananda Reddy said that Piyush, (29), was a long time drug user, starting with marijuana, when he was an engineering student.
“Later he got addicted to LSD, which he used to procure it from the Netherlands, Britain and Germany through the internet. Later, he turned into a drug peddler. Piyush lost his job during demonetisation. He studied the mental state of those who consume narcotics and started procuring alternative drugs like Viagra and anti-depression drugs. By mixing such drugs and tablets, he prepares a blotting paper that is as effective as LSD,” Mr Vivekananda Reddy was quoted as saying.
Quoting police sources, the Times of India reported that Piyush obtained the shipment of LSD from Munich after paying 63.90 Euros from his ICICI Bank account.
The TOI report also adds that he migrated from LSD blots to LSD crystals, to make more money, and even placed an order on the Dark Web to procure more LSD crystals from Netherlands.
Officials seized 80 blots of LSD, along with 2,746 strips of a concoction of chemicals, 20 grams of marijuana, 40 grams of a powder along with several tablets and capsules.
Following the drug bust earlier this month, P&E officials said over 1,000 students, some as young as 13, were using drugs.
The accused were selling drugs to the students of several schools and colleges in Hyderabad.
Authorities have already issued notices to over 50 schools and colleges, whose students were involved. The parents and educational institutions have been asked to take necessary steps to prevent the students from buying drugs.
Meanwhile, officials said that at least 15 personalities from the Telugu film industry were suspected to be involved in the sensational drug racket.
While the number of artists from Tollywood linked to the racket was said to be 10 till Wednesday, Enforcement Director Akun Sabharwal on Thursday said some more people from the industry were identified for suspected substance abuse.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Enforcement Wing of Prohibition and Excise (P&E) Department has sent notices to these personalities to personally appear before it between July 19 and July 27.
Officials said the material gathered so far during the investigation indicates that Tollywood personalities were using cocaine, LSD, MDMA and other drugs.
Each personality has been given a specific date, by when, they have to appear before investigators.
IANS inputs