New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DIR) has busted India’s biggest drug racket and recovered 23,500 kg mandrax tablets (methaqualone), with an estimated worth of Rs 4,700 crore in the international market. Bollywood producer Subash Dudhani has been arrested in the connection, an official said on Wednesday.

“It is India’s biggest drug racket busted by the DRI. I think it should also be the world’s biggest, as the seizure is around 23,500 kg. Its international value is estimated between Rs 4,500-Rs 4,700 crore,” said DRI Director General Jayant Misra.

Misra said: “DRI’s Mumbai zonal unit got the tip off. It was further developed with the help of Border Security Force. A warehouse in Rajasthan’s Udaipur city housing the drugs was busted on October 28.

“In this connection, DRI arrested Bollywood producer Subhash Dudani from Mumbai on October 29,” he added.

Officials said that Subhas Dudhani, who has produced Bollywood films, also had businesses and properties in Mumbai. The information came to DRI Mumbai and then it was traced to Udaipur and with active assistance from Border Security Force (BSF), the mastermind was arrested.

The drug is commonly known as Mandrax,M-Pills, buttons or smarties and is usually smoked mixed with cannabis. It is used as a recreational drug in Africa and Asia.

In last 5 years, the DRI has seized more than 540 kgs of heroin and 7,409 kgs of ephedrine along with other narcotics and psychotropic substances. In recent past, the DRI has also neutralised 10 other factories manufacturing synthetic drugs like Mephedrone, Ketamine, Alprazolam and Ephedrine, across several states.