AHMEDABAD (Tuesday, March 10, 2026) — The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has seized 22 kg of the analgesic drug etomidate at Mumbai airport. The consignment, valued at approximately ₹85 lakh to ₹1.1 crore in international markets, was being illegally exported to Malaysia through air cargo while disguised as “aloe vera powder.”
The Operation: “Mislabeled” Cargo
The seizure is part of an ongoing crackdown on a Surat-based syndicate involved in the illegal export of scheduled drugs to Southeast Asian countries.
- The Trap: Acting on specific intelligence, the Gujarat ATS tracked six parcels weighing 25.5 kg that were dispatched on February 28.
- The Detection: At Mumbai airport, officials used a spectrograph drug detector kit (Raman spectrography) to examine the parcels. The test confirmed that 22 kg of the “aloe vera powder” was actually etomidate.
- The Mastermind: Nikunj Gadhiya (28), a Surat-based businessman, was arrested on Sunday. He allegedly used his companies—DWN Bioscience, Neutral Pharma, and Om Herbs—to prepare fake bills and forged customs clearance documents.
The Rise of Etomidate: From Medicine to “Vape Drug”
While etomidate is a legitimate short-acting anesthetic used in emergency medicine, it is increasingly being diverted for recreational use, especially in Southeast Asia.
- The Market: In foreign markets, the drug fetches between $4,000 to $5,000 (approx. ₹3.5L to ₹4.5L) per kilogram.
- Vaping Crisis: According to The Lancet, etomidate is often repackaged into e-liquids for vapes (known as “space oil” in Hong Kong or “kpod” in Singapore). It provides rapid dissociative effects but can lead to severe side effects like muscle spasms, confusion, and adrenal suppression.
- Legal Status: While not classified as a narcotic under India’s NDPS Act, it is strictly controlled in the destination countries:
- Malaysia: Group B drug under the Poisons Act.
- Thailand: Schedule II substance under the Psychotropic Substances Act.
- Singapore: Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Investigation and Prior Shipments
The ATS revealed that the syndicate had successfully smuggled significant quantities before being caught:
| Accused | Firm Involved | Quantity Exported/Planned |
| Nikunj Gadhiya | DWN Bioscience | ~50 kg (as Aloe Vera powder) |
| Chetan Vavadiya | Rudra Enterprise | ~50 kg (as Ginopol-24 powder) |
| Bhautik Padmani | Jani Pharma | ~25 kg (as Aloe Vera/Carbomer) |
The ATS is now coordinating with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and international agencies to trace the kingpin of the Malaysian cartel, identified as Chua Zhi Xuan.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Gujarat ATS seizes 22 kg of analgesic drug etomidate at Mumbai airport” (March 10, 2026)
- The Times of India: “Gujarat ATS busts etomidate export racket; Surat businessman held” (March 8, 2026)
- The Lancet: “Emergence of Etomidate as a recreational drug via electronic cigarettes” (June 2024 Reference)
- UNODC: “March 2025 Update on Etomidate and analogues on illicit drug markets” (March 2025)
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