The raid was conducted in the forest area of Surjana village, about 30 km from Garoth police station, following a specific tip-off. Police recovered 12.50 kg of crude MD along with large quantities of chemical substances and machinery used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs. The search operation began around 7 pm and continued through the night.
According to police, the illegal unit had been running for several months in a house located amid agricultural fields, far from residential areas, to avoid detection. The factory was set up near the Gandhi Sagar backwater zone, providing isolation and easy disposal routes, investigators said.
Forces from more than eight police stations—including Garoth, Shamgarh, Suwasra, Sitamau, Afzalpur, Mandsaur, and Bhanpura—were mobilised for the operation. Over 80 police personnel participated. Media teams arriving near the area were stopped about 2 km from the site due to security and operational constraints.
Mandsaur Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena confirmed the seizure and arrests. “Based on credible information, a coordinated raid was carried out. Chemicals used in the production of MD drugs, along with mixing machines, gas furnaces, steel pipes and drums, were seized,” he said.
Police identified the location as belonging to Deepak Sikligar. Two accused—Deepak Lohar (32) and Sumit Lohar (19), both residents of Surjana village—were arrested from the spot. They are being interrogated under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Officials said the investigation has expanded to identify the supply chain for precursor chemicals, distribution networks, and possible interstate links. “We are probing backward and forward linkages to uncover associates and financiers connected to the operation,” an officer involved in the investigation said.
The seizure underscores continuing concerns over clandestine drug manufacturing in the Garoth belt. In January 2025, the narcotics wing had raided another MD factory in Kharkheda village under Garoth police station, where chemicals capable of producing nearly 50 kg of MD—valued at about ₹50 crore in the international market—were seized. One accused, Sajjan Singh Sisodia, was arrested in that case.
Police said intensified surveillance and intelligence-led operations will continue in vulnerable areas to curb synthetic drug production and trafficking.
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