An Air Force officer has been arrested in an international drug racket

Highlights International drug syndicate exposed by Narcotics Control Bureau's raids

Air force officer, Bengaluru scientist were key members of drug syndicate

221 kg Amphetamines worth Rs 230 crore seized during raids

An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and a Bengaluru-based scientist were arrested after multi-state raids on the weekend that have exposed an international ring dealing in drugs like Ecstasy. Around 220 kg of ready-to-use amphetamine worth Rs 230 crore have been seized during the raids on Friday.Air Force Wing Commander Rajasekhar Reddy, 35, was sent to jail for two weeks by a court today.The officer was caught yesterday in Nanded in Maharashtra, apparently on his way to Goa from Hyderabad. Over Rs 7 lakh cash, five mobile phones and allegedly incriminating documents were found on him. He is believed to be one of the main suppliers in the network to make and deliver amphetamines, which are potent nervous system stimulants.Posted in the Directorate of Information Technology in Delhi, the officer had reportedly been tracked for weeks both by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Air Force intelligence wing after a tip-off from a drug seller arrested in Chennai two months ago. More officers are under surveillance, say sources.

Sources say Venkat Rama Rao, a research scientist with a reputed firm, and his wife Preethi, were key members of the syndicate. Mr Rao and Wing Commander Reddy had once been classmates and allegedly resumed contact when the officer was posted in Bengaluru.Hyderabad, say officials, was the base where amphetamines - used in several party drugs - were produced at a factory originally hired for the manufacture of diarrhea drugs. The drugs were allegedly trafficked mainly to countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.