Who was arrested for smuggling etomidate?

Nikunj Gadhiya, Chetan Vavadiya, and Bhautik Padmani, all residents of Surat, were arrested for allegedly smuggling etomidate.

How was the etomidate being smuggled?

The etomidate was disguised as aloe vera powder and exported through air cargo using fake bills and forged customs documents.

What is etomidate's classification in Southeast Asia?

Etomidate is treated as a narcotic or psychotropic substance in Southeast Asian countries, classified as a Schedule II substance in Thailand, a Group B drug in Malaysia, and a Class C drug in Singapore.

Home / Crime and Justice / Etomidate Export Ring Crushed by ATS

Etomidate Export Ring Crushed by ATS

7 Mar

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Summary

Three Surat residents arrested for exporting etomidate.
Drug disguised as aloe vera powder for international sale.
International drug cartels were allegedly involved in the scheme.

An anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has dismantled an international drug smuggling operation involving three residents of Surat: Nikunj Gadhiya, Chetan Vavadiya, and Bhautik Padmani. These individuals are accused of exporting etomidate, an anesthetic increasingly misused for recreational purposes, to Southeast Asian countries.

The accused allegedly disguised the drug as aloe vera powder, preparing fake bills and forged customs documents to export it through air cargo from Mumbai airport. Their operations utilized companies like DWN Bioscience and Jani Pharma.