How Hyderabad-based Lucent Drugs illegally exported Tramadol to Pakistan bypassing export ban

Hyderabad: Lucent Drugs Private Limited, accused of illegally exporting drugs to Pakistan, now faces a prosecution complaint filed by the sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate before a special court hearing this case.

The company is based in Hyderabad. However, the investigation agencies in Bengaluru have registered a complaint.

Company forged records and documents

The ED Hyderabad Zonal Office began an investigation based on an FIR registered by the Bengaluru zone unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The FIR stated that the company forged records and documents relating to the various export authorisations undertaken by Lucent Drugs. This was done by its Managing Director, Vinod Jain, Associate Vice-President Devarasetty Sai Vikas, Logistics and Sales Executive Gangula Eswara Rao and others.

Company re-routed Tramadol stock to Pakistan to bypass prohibition

Lucent Drugs has been, among other things, in the business of manufacturing and exporting Tramadol to its overseas clients, including those based in Pakistan.

The company initially got an NOC from the Central Bureau of Narcotics to export Tramadol to Pakistan. However, subsequently, the Central Bureau of Narcotics denied approval for the export of Tramadol to Pakistan.

To bypass the prohibition on export of Tramadol to Pakistan, the accused persons illegally re-exported 13,800 kg of Tramadol valued at Rs 4.12 crore (approx.) to Pakistan through their overseas client CHR Olesen Pharmaceuticals, a Denmark-based company. Another 5,000 kg of Tramadol valued at Rs 1.34 crore (approx.) was sent to Pakistan through SM Biomed, a Malaysia-based company, through which Lucent received export proceeds.

Illegal earnings shown as legitimate gains

As a result of the illegal export of Tramadol to Pakistan, Lucent Drugs generated and received Proceeds of Crime (POC) totalling Rs 5.46 crore (approx.) in its bank accounts.

ED investigation also revealed that POC were intermingled in the business operations of Lucent Drugs and were projected as untainted in the form of legitimate sales proceeds from other countries.

ED had earlier attached immovable properties, including building and factory premises worth Rs 5.46 crore belonging to Lucent Drugs.