1,352 drug ampules seized in Bengal, 1 arrested

Kolkata, May 4 (IANS) A large quantity of ampules of an injectible medicine, misused as a recreational drug, has been seized by the NCB from West Bengal's Murshidabad district and one person arrested in the case, an official said on Friday.

"As many as 1,352 ampules of the drug were seized during two raids on Thursday night. Youths use these injections as a cheaper substitute for heroin," Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Dilip Kumar Srivastava said in a release here.

According to the official, 1,275 ampules were seized from Rejaul Karim's house in Lalgola's Radhakantapur village and another 77 ampules in a follow-up raid from another area.

"Karim was arrested while co-accused Rabiul Islam, an unauthorised medical practitioner, fled the spot," the officer said.

The seized drug, generally used to help addicts of other opiates to battle withdrawal symptoms, too can be addictive in case of abuse or frequent consumption.