Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth 5.6 crore in connection with the illegal export of Tramadol by Lucent Drugs Private Limited to Pakistan. On Wednesday, the Hyderabad zonal office provisionally attached immovable assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The attached assets include land, buildings, and factory premises owned by Lucent Drugs at Jinnaram in Sangareddy district.
This action is part of an ongoing investigation following a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau Bengaluru zonal unit under Section 36A of the NDPS Act, 1985. The complaint outlines violations related to the illegal export of psychotropic substances, contravention of orders under the NDPS Act, and the forgery of records and documents related to export authorisations by Lucent Drugs.
The ED’s probe revealed that Lucent Drugs was involved in manufacturing and illegally exporting Tramadol to Pakistan. Initially, the company had obtained a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Central Bureau of Narcotics for exports to Pakistan. However, subsequent applications for NOCs were rejected.
Undeterred, the promoters and directors of Lucent Drugs allegedly continued their illegal activities, re-exporting 13,800 kg of Tramadol, valued at 4.12 crore, to Pakistan through CHR Olesen Pharmaceuticals, a Denmark-based company, the ED alleged. Tramadol is commonly used to treat severe pain, and is not usually recommended for the treatment of chronic (long-term) pain.
In addition, the promoters illegally exported 5,000 kg of Tramadol, worth 1.33 crore, to Pakistan via SM Biomed, a Malaysia-based company. The company allegedly received export proceeds amounting to 5.46 crore, generating proceeds of crime in their bank accounts, ED said. Further investigations are ongoing.
