Surat: A 28-year-old chemist in Surat allegedly began manufacturing the banned narcotic mephedrone (MD) after suffering heavy losses in foreign exchange (forex) trading, police investigations have revealed. The accused reportedly took this step to repay mounting debts, exposing a larger illegal drug manufacturing network with both local and overseas links.Police identified the accused as Brijesh Bhalodiya, who was working as a senior chemist at a chemical manufacturing firm in the Sachin area of Surat. He was earning around ₹35,000 per month and had recently been promoted. Investigators said Bhalodiya got involved in forex trading on the advice of an acquaintance and incurred significant losses, pushing him into financial distress.According to the probe, Bhalodiya came in contact with Janak Jagani, alleged to be the mastermind of the drug racket and currently believed to be based in London. To clear a debt of nearly ₹4 lakh owed to Jagani, Bhalodiya allegedly agreed to manufacture mephedrone. Police said he used his technical knowledge as a chemist to produce the banned substance and sent part of the proceeds to the overseas handler.During the investigation, police found that the accused allegedly stole precursor chemicals from his employer’s factory, discreetly smuggling them out concealed in everyday items, including his tiffin box. These chemicals were then used to manufacture high-purity mephedrone at a private facility. The case came to light during a wider probe into an illegal MD laboratory that was earlier unearthed inside a mall in Surat, leading to multiple arrests and seizures of drugs and raw materials.Also Read: Chemist shop owner among three arrested in Ghaziabad over illegal sale of cancer drugsThe investigation also brought Isha Anghan, head of Dkria Food and Pharma Analytical Laboratory, under the scanner. She allegedly allowed the use of her laboratory premises for drug production without proper verification. Police are examining her role, financial transactions and communications to determine her involvement in the illegal operation.According to a recent media report in The Times of India, officials of the Special Operations Group (SOG) are continuing their investigation to trace the entire supply chain, including the overseas links, and to identify others involved in the manufacture and distribution of the banned drug.Authorities have stated that further arrests are likely as the probe progresses, with a focus on dismantling the organised network behind the illegal drug manufacturing activities in the region.Also Read: Unaccounted Pregabalin Stock Seized in FDA Raid: Amritsar Chemist Loses License