NCB Busts 2 Clandestine Drug Laboratories in Greater Noida in Intel-Led Operation; Amit Shah Hails "Major Milestone"

The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted two clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratories in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, seizing hundreds of kilograms of synthetic drug material and arresting two people, including a foreign national. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the operation on Saturday, October 17, 2026, calling it a major milestone in the fight against drug syndicates.

Operation Crystal Hunt

According to a statement issued by the agency, the NCB acted on specific intelligence and launched a covert operation on Friday, code-named "Operation Crystal Hunt." The laboratories were operating from rented premises in Jahanabad Kadalpur village in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, which includes Greater Noida. They were allegedly being used to manufacture and process synthetic drugs. The action was described as a high-precision, intelligence-led operation against transnational narcotics networks.

What Was Seized

The NCB said it seized 379.74 kilograms of an amphetamine-containing material and 10 kilograms of pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a chemical precursor that is commonly misused in the production of methamphetamine. The agency also recovered drug precursors and manufacturing equipment, which indicates that the units were equipped for large-scale production and not for small-time processing. The quantities involved suggest a significant supply capacity that could have fed distribution networks over a wide area.

Arrests and Investigation

Two persons, including a woman, were arrested in the operation, and one of them is a foreign national. They are undergoing intensive interrogation so that investigators can uncover the wider supply and distribution network. The NCB said that the use of multiple identities by drug traffickers to mislead enforcement agencies poses a significant challenge and is being examined as part of the investigation. Officials are expected to trace the sources of the raw materials, the financing of the laboratories and the channels through which the finished products were meant to be sold.

Shah's Reaction

In a post on social media, the Home Minister's Office said that a major milestone had been achieved with the busting of two clandestine drug laboratories in Greater Noida, adding that the operation led to the seizure of huge quantities of synthetic drugs, drug precursors and equipment and the arrest of two individuals, including one foreign national. Congratulating the NCB on this major success, the post described the operation as a testament to the government's commitment to dismantling drug cartels and severing their supply chains. It said the success reflects a time-bound roadmap to dismantle transnational and domestic drug syndicates.

A Pattern of Action Near Delhi

The latest bust follows earlier action in the same region. In October 2024, the NCB had busted a clandestine synthetic-drug laboratory in the Kasna Industrial Area of Gautam Buddha Nagar, where about 95.5 kilograms of synthetic drugs in solid and liquid forms were seized. The recurrence of such cases points to the use of industrial and rural pockets near the national capital for illegal manufacturing, taking advantage of rented premises and the proximity to major transport links.

The Wider Campaign

The government has been stressing a ruthless approach to the drug supply chain, along with demand reduction and rehabilitation of victims. Shah has earlier urged states to destroy clandestine laboratories with rigour and take strong legal action against those running them. The Greater Noida operation will be seen as an example of this approach, and the questioning of those arrested could lead to further arrests in other states and abroad.

This report is based on published news coverage and official statements. The investigation is ongoing and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.