Criminal evolution: How Raj bootlegging routes became synthetic drug highways

Jaipur: A quiet but decisive shift is underway in Rajasthan's murky underworld. Networks that once ferried illicit liquor across Gujarat's dry belt have now pivoted to a far more lucrative trade – synthetic drugs.Inspector general of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Vikas Kumar, says these established smuggling routes, once used for alcohol and poppy husk, are now fuelling the rapid spread of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, across both cities and rural pockets of the state.The agency has identified a structural transformation in the narcotics ecosystem, where traditional contraband channels have evolved into decentralised drug networks run by local operators, financiers and chemists.Kumar said that what initially appeared to be an external supply chain has now firmly taken root within Rajasthan.The shift traces back to 2019–20, when enforcement agencies from Gujarat and Maharashtra began seizing large quantities of MD in Rajasthan. For months, investigators suspected the drug was being routed in from Gujarat and Maharashtra, where early busts hinted at established supply lines. But the scale of seizures raised deeper questions about whether Rajasthan had quietly become a production hub.ANTF data now underlines the growing magnitude of the threat. Since its formation on Oct 7 last year, the agency has registered 24 MD-related busts, with 15 of those coming between Jan and March alone — an acceleration that officials say reflects both rising demand and localised production.The roots of this transition lie in declining returns from older illicit trades. Liquor smuggling routes from Punjab to Gujarat, once capable of yielding up to Rs 1 lakh per trip at their peak around 2014, became increasingly risky and less profitable due to tighter enforcement.Simultaneously, the ban on poppy husk in Rajasthan in 2016 opened another key revenue stream, but one proved to be a high-risk task. That resulting vacuum proved fertile ground for synthetic drugs.Around this time, local operators established links with interstate traffickers who introduced them to MD — a powerful stimulant that required smaller consignments, carried lower logistical risks and promised significantly higher margins.By 2017, intensified crackdowns in Punjab and Gujarat had already squeezed traditional bootlegging operations, pushing networks to experiment with narcotics.Initially, MD was sourced from established cartels in Gujarat and Maharashtra, where strong chemical industries supported production. Small consignments began entering Rajasthan around 2020, catering to a limited but growing clientele. But what began as a supply chain soon evolved into a production model.Kumar describes the emergence of a "corporate-style" structure within these cartels."Operations are now divided into specialised roles — chemical suppliers, chemists, factory operators managing utilities, logistics coordinators and distribution networks — all overseen by a central figure akin to a chief operator," Kumar said.Early attempts at localised production relied heavily on expertise from outside the state, with trained chemists brought in to manufacture the drug.Post-COVID, however, local networks adapted rapidly. Cartels began sourcing precursor chemicals locally from Rajasthan, particularly from industrial hubs like Jodhpur, thereby eliminating dependence on external suppliers and further embedding the trade in the state.The economics of MD production explain its explosive growth.According to ANTF estimates, producing one kilogram of the drug costs roughly Rs one lakh. The same quantity can be sold to distributors for around Rs 12 lakh and, at street level, can fetch up to Rs 5,000 per gram — which translates to massive profit margins."The MD trade has eliminated the need for intermediaries; peddlers can now buy directly from producers in small quantities and make quick profits," Kumar said.Equally significant is the shift in manufacturing methods. What were once fixed, room-based labs have now become mobile units. Production is increasingly carried out in trucks or temporary setups near borewells, allowing operators to relocate quickly and evade detection. A single batch requires continuous electricity for eight to ten hours and can be ready within 24 to 48 hours, after which the setup is dismantled and moved to a new location.Officials warn that this decentralised and mobile model has made enforcement far more challenging. Unlike traditional smuggling, which relies on large consignments moving through predictable routes, MD production and distribution now operate in fragmented, shifting nodes — blurring the lines between manufacturer, transporter and seller.