Over 3 lakh Tapentadol tablets sent through parcel seized in Haryana's Sirsa; biotech firm booked

Sirsa, Jul 10 (PTI) Sirsa Police have seized around 3.06 lakh Tapentadol tablets, valued at nearly Rs 75 lakh in the international market, allegedly transported through a parcel service from Punjab's Bathinda, police said on Friday. The police have detained two persons, including the driver of a pickup vehicle, while a case has been registered against Ashmun Biotech Private Limited over alleged fake bills and forged documents, they said. Superintendent of Police Deepak Saharan said an Anti-Narcotics Cell team intercepted a pickup vehicle at Jagdev Singh Chowk during patrolling. The driver was identified as Rajpal, a resident of Sirsa, while his associate was Bharat Kumar alias Michael, a resident of Prem Nagar in Sirsa. During questioning, Bharat Kumar told police that he operated a parcel shop named Michael Parcel Service in Bathinda's Lottery Market. He said parcels booked there were transported by pickup vehicle to his outlet in Sirsa's MC Market for further delivery. Police became suspicious of the consignment and called Drug Inspector Sunil Kumar to the spot. On opening 10 boxes, officials recovered around 3.06 lakh Tapentadol tablets. The accused failed to produce valid licences or documents related to the medicines, following which they, along with the seized drugs, were handed over to the Drug Inspector for further legal action. Police said preliminary investigation found several irregularities in the packaging and invoices of Ashmun Biotech Private Limited. The bills were suspected to be forged, following which an FIR was registered at City Sirsa police station under charges including cheating and forgery. The SP said a special team led by ASP Adarshdeep Singh conducted raids in Bathinda and Chandigarh during the investigation. Police found that the registered office of Ashmun Biotech Private Limited was listed in Industrial Area Phase II, Chandigarh, but local inquiries revealed that the company had vacated the premises around three months ago. Police said the firm's role was under investigation and raids were continuing in Bathinda and Chandigarh to trace those involved and uncover the entire network. PTI VSD SHS