Hyderabad: Misuse of alprazolam, a tranquiliser drug used to treat sleeping disorders and anxiety, has reached alarming levels in the city, with over 293 kg of the substance worth crores of rupees seized in the past two years alone, according to the Telangana State Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TS-NAB).
In 2023, 43 instances of alprazolam seizures have been recorded and 66 cases of selling alprazolam mixed in toddy, despite such misuse attracting action under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police said.
TS-NAB chief Sandeep Shandilya, in a release, said: “To eradicate the sale and supply of the NDPS drugs, we are coordinating with the Drugs Control Administration, health agencies and excise department, especially for eradication of usage of alprazolam, which is a very dangerous chemical.”
The police said that alprazolam is as dangerous as other narcotics like cocaine, heroin, morphine, amphetamines and opium derivatives.
“Alprazolam is being manufactured in rogue factories and raw materials like benzoyl cyanide are used in its preparation. Thus, there is a grave risk that a small mix up in the manufacturing have disastrous consequences,” Shandilya said.
Toddy dealers said that in the past one-and-a-half decade, alprazolam has replaced diazepam and chloral hydrate that were used by some toddy depots in districts.
“There was a high demand for diazepam… we used to call it as ‘disco’ and chloral hydrate as ‘namak’, with toddy depots in many areas making use of such substances,” said Venkatesh Goud, who owned a toddy depot in Medak district during the undivided AP era, said.
A reformed smuggler said that chloral hydrate was previously smuggled from Mumbai in cars to evade suspicion, while diazepam and saccharin were smuggled in private travels buses.
“These chemicals are mixed with toddy. As the chemicals are very bitter, saccharin is used to sweeten it,” the ex-smuggler said.
Name checking one Saleem of Bhendibazaar in Mumbai as the supplier, the smuggler said they then introduced alprazolam, which is 100 times stronger than chloral hydrate and diazepam.
“Even today, this process is being done. To avoid risk of being caught, smugglers are approaching the local drug manufacturers instead of Mumbai suppliers,” the ex-smuggler said.
The reformed smuggler said that a gram of pure alprazolam costs Rs 10,000, which is sufficient for 2,000-4,000 doses, given that 0.25-.05 mg is sufficient for intoxication.
Chemical threat
- Alprazolam is a chemical used to treat sleeping disorders, anxiety
- It is highly addictive, with physical dependence that is hard to wean off
- Toddy makers mix alprazolam, replacing diazepam and chloral hydrate, in huge barrels
- The drug is mainly smuggled into the city from Mumbai
- Rs 10,000 is estimated cost of one gram of alprazolam
- 0.25-0.5 mg is the dosage per person
- 293 kg seized from city over past two years
- 66 cases filed against toddy sellers in 2023
“Alprazolam is being manufactured in rouge factories and raw materials like benzoyl cyanide are used in its preparation. Thus, there is a grave risk that a small mix up in the manufacturing have disastrous consequences.”
- Sandeep Shandilya TS-NAB chief
