Alprazolam manufacturing unit unearthed inside Bowenpally school premises

A clandestine alprazolam manufacturing unit was unearthed inside the premises of Medha School at Bowenpally by Telangana’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) on Saturday (September 13). Officers seized the narcotics, along with ₹21 lakh in cash, said to be the earnings from two days’ sales of the drug.

The team identified the accused as Malela Jaya Prakash Goud, 39, a resident of Old Bowenpally and director of the school. According to investigators, he had been manufacturing alprazolam for the past nine months, using the school premises to conceal the activity.

The school runs classes from first to tenth standard. While the cellar of the building houses classrooms, the ground floor accommodates a bank and part of the first floor is also used for teaching, said an officer from EAGLE. “The rear portion of the building, controlled by Goud, was converted into a drug lab,” said the officer.

During the raid, officers seized 3.4 kg of finished alprazolam and 4.3 kg of the unfinished product. Initial inquiries revealed that Goud was selling the narcotic to known contacts in Bhootpur, Mahabubnagar. Investigators also learnt that he had previously run a toddy shop in Mahabubnagar and paid one Guruva Reddy ₹2 lakh for the manufacturing formula. Police said Goud was aided by his employees in running the trade, while some suppliers have already been identified as those providing him with chemicals.