Jaisalmer: A Barmer police probe into an alleged Buprenorphine diversion racket has revealed that around 3.5 lakh tablets were supplied in the name of a de-addiction centre in Jaisalmer that investigators found did not exist, with a hotel operating at the stated address.A police team led by Sadar SHO Devichand Dhaka reached Jaisalmer Thursday with one of the accused to verify the address of Jagruti De-addiction Centre. Police found no centre or patients there. Instead, a hotel was operating from the premises, while its owner denied that any de-addiction centre had ever functioned there.The development came after Barmer police arrested four people Monday, including a doctor from Gujarat, for their alleged involvement in illegally procuring and diverting Buprenorphine tablets. The accused were identified as Chirag Giri Goswami of Satsan, Pathawada in Banaskantha; Mukesh Kumar Khatri and Chandresh, both from Deesa; and Dr Samrat Popat, also from Deesa.According to Dhaka, the probe began after two cases involving Buprenorphine were registered in Barmer on Jan 3. RIICO police recovered 6,000 tablets from a room in Danji Ki Hodi, while Sadar police recovered another 10,800 tablets allegedly dumped near NH-68 at Sansiyon Ka Tala.During the investigation, police noticed identification codes printed on the seized tablets. Tracing the codes allegedly led investigators to supplies made in the names of de-addiction centres purportedly operating in Jaisalmer and Mahesana in Gujarat.Police allege the accused procured the prescription opioid from authorised pharmaceutical companies by claiming it was required to treat drug-dependent patients at the centres. The tablets were allegedly diverted and sold to medical stores and other buyers at substantial margins.Buprenorphine is used to treat opioid dependence and pain. Its sale and dispensing in India are subject to prescription and record-keeping requirements.Police said the investigation is underway to trace the complete supply chain and identify others allegedly involved in diverting the tablets into the illicit market.
Fake de-addiction centres in Raj, Guj used to divert 3.5 lakh Buprenorphine tablets: Barmer police | Jaipur News
