SOG probes pentazocine racketeers’ network

Vadodara: Investigating in the pentazocine injections haul, the special operations group (SOG) is now focussing on the accused racketeers’ network. Cops said that the gang of three which was caught on Saturday had sold the injections to many youngsters in the city.
“The accused used to sell the vials to the youngsters for a premium. We are trying to find out how they sold the injections and who were their regular customers,” said S G Solanki, Sayajigunj police inspector, adding that they are also digging up for more conduits.
“We have sent the accused for Covid tests and if their results are negative then we will arrest them and seek their remand,” Solanki added.
Cops are also focussing on the source from which the gang got hundreds of pentazocine injections. Investigating officials said that the accused must have been involved in this racket since a long time.
“We are trying to find out the person who sold them such a big stock of pentazocine injections,” the police said.
The SOG sleuths had on Saturday arrested Vijay Panchal, Suraj Patel and Harish Panchal for selling the injections without necessary permits. The accused used to sell the injections at the price of Rs 100 to Rs 150 per vial.
Pentazocine is a scheduled prescription drug that cannot be sold over the counter. Cops said that the accused ran an agency for trading in baby products and used to smuggle vials in boxes of chocolates, baby products and sanitary napkins. The SOG has seized 906 vials of pentazocine apart from four mobile phones and a car from the accused.