EAGLE Director Sandeep Shandilya presiding over Thursday’s meeting along with other officials in Hyderabad. | Photo credit: By arrangement
In a bid to curb the illicit manufacture of synthetic and branded drugs, the elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement Telangana (EAGLE) Force convened a high-level coordination meeting in Hyderabad on February 12, outlining a zero-tolerance strategy and warning of strict action against violators.
Chaired by EAGLE Director Sandeep Shandilya, the meeting was attended by Drug Control Authority Director General and Director Prohibition and Excise Shahnawaz Qasim; Telangana Pollution Control Board Chief Environmental Engineer B. Raghu; Deputy Superintendent of Factories K. Srinivasa Rao and other senior officers.
The officials discussed the growing threat posed by clandestine production of synthetic and new designer drugs and emphasized the need for seamless interagency coordination. The departments represented at the meeting have the statutory authority to regulate chemical units, laboratories and research and development centers through licensing and compliance mechanisms under relevant laws.
The Medicines Control Authority oversees pharmaceutical manufacturing under the Medicines and Cosmetics Act to ensure that licensed premises are not misused. The Prohibition and Excise Department enforces the provisions of the NDPS Act and detects the illicit manufacture of narcotics, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors. The Department of Factories regulates industrial infrastructure and safety under the Factories Act, while the Telangana Pollution Control Board grants approvals for the establishment and operation of industrial units and monitors emissions, effluents and disposal of hazardous waste.
As part of the strategic action plan, the agencies agreed to integrate data related to chemical units, laboratories and research facilities across the state to strengthen surveillance and identify suspicious activity. A Joint Intelligence Sharing Group consisting of nodal officers from all participating departments will be established to enable real-time information sharing and coordinated enforcement.
High-risk sectors and vulnerable industrial segments have been identified for joint inspections. These inspections will be supported by the deployment of hand-held Raman spectrophotometers for on-site screening of suspect substances to improve early detection of illicit synthetic drug production.
Officials also termed the illegal renting or leasing of chemical reactors and production infrastructure to unauthorized persons as a serious concern and said strict action would be taken against units that facilitate such activities. Joint teams will conduct intelligence- and data-driven surprise inspections of chemical units and laboratories.
Published – 12 Feb 2026 19:03 IST