3kg party drug seized from airport

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 10, 2019: For the first notorious party drug Methaqualone @ Mandrax crystals of three Kg at Imphal Tulihal International Airport by a team of Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB).

The drugs were seized on January 8 from the cargo section of the airport afternoon by the team led by NAB additional superintendant of police Th. Brinda, said a statement released by superintendent of police, NAB and PRO of Manipur police department W. Basu Singh today.

Methaqualone or Mandrax is a banned psychotropic substance under schedule of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act,1985.

The drug is also popularly known as Quaaludes Biscuits, Flowers, Vitamin Q, Lovers, 714. Soap, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde etc. Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depression popularly refers to as Mandrax in South West Asia and Quaalude is a synthetic, barbiturate like, central nervous system depressant. It is an anxiolytic (used for reducing anxiety) and sedative-hypnotic drug. The drug typically comes in tablet or capsule form and is taken orally. However, in certain cases, it is crushed and smoked. Heavy abusers liquefy it and inject into their veins. It is completely tasteless and odourless. Its effects are extremely potent causing heavy abuse and fast addiction. Overdosing on Quaaludes can be fatal, especially when it is combined with other medication or alcohol, said the statement.

The drugs were concealed inside a hidden chamber of Bangle Hollow Tube Forming Machine, heavy machinery used for gold jewellery industry Presumptive test conducted on the seized drugs samples by Forensic Science Laboratory, Pangei has shown the presence of Methaqualone, it said.

A case has been registered at NAB Police station and investigation is going on, said the statement.