The Neemuch Opium Factory, established in 1933 in Madhya Pradesh, is one of India’s two primary opium production facilities, alongside the Ghazipur factory in Uttar Pradesh. It was meant to illegal export to China by the colonists.
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| Neemuch Opium Facility, MP.mpbreakingnews.in |
While Ghazipur remains the largest opium fatalities globally, Neemuch is notable for its modern infrastructure features, including the world’s largest opium receptacle, capable of holding 40 tons of opium. This storage structure resembles a vast swimming pool and is a testament to the factory's operational scale. About 5 Kms. from the eastern border of Rajasthan it has two separate units, the Opium factory and and Alkaloid Works (inaugurated on October 6,197). The factory covers an area of 57,000 Sq. Mtrs.
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| EIC exploited Opium addiction mpbreakingnews.in |
The factory specializes in the production and processing of opium and its derivatives, such as morphine salts, codeine phosphates, thebaine, dionine, and morphine hydrochloride, which are critical components for pharmaceutical drugs. Operated under strict oversight by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (1985), the factory supplies controlled substances to both domestic and international markets, including Europe and the USA. It ensures secure storage and transport, maintaining compliance with global narcotics regulations.
Neemuch’s role has evolved over time. Originally part of the colonial infrastructure, it continues to support India’s position as a leader in the licit opium market. Along with Ghazipur, it forms the core of the Opium and Alkaloid Works under the Ministry of Finance. Together, these factories produce medical-grade opium with high morphine content, prized worldwide for its purity.
However, the global illicit trade remains a challenge. While India’s production is strictly regulated, opium-based products are sometimes diverted and smuggled, particularly via Afghanistan, into international black markets, including the USA.
The Neemuch facility, with its strategic operations and historical significance, highlights India’s complex relationship with opium—from colonial exploitation to its modern role in global pharmaceutical industries.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/countrys-biggest-oldest-opium-factory-shut-in-
http://www.bihartimes.in/articles/amarnath/opium.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghazipur
https://dor.gov.in/government-oipum-alkaloid-factories-chief-controller-factories
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