Alprazolam was being illicitly manufactured there.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized around 100 kgs of alprazolam with a market value of Rs 2.52 crore, allegedly manufactured illicitly from a factory in Visakhapatnam, and apprehended five persons in this connection.
On specific intelligence, officers of DRI, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad conducted search operations at different premises located in Medak (in Telangana) and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, Additional Director General M K Singh said in a release on Thursday.
During the search in the factory premises located at J N Pharmacity at Parawada (Vizag) it was found that alprazolam was being illicitly manufactured there, he said, adding that quantity of about 100 kgs of alprazolam, with market value of Rs 2.52 crore, was recovered from the factory and it was seized under the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Apart from this, 330 litres of raw material and around 62 kgs of in-process material was also seized.
Alprazolam is a psychotropic substance notified under the provisions of NDPS Act.
"Five persons, who were found involved in the illicit manufacture of alprazolam and in its further sale, have been apprehended," Mr Singh said.
Further incriminating evidence has been recovered during the searches and investigation is on.