Mumbai: The Sakinaka police, in a joint operation with the Mysuru police, have dismantled an interstate drug racket and disbanded a factory in Mysore, Karnataka. Mephedrone (MD, a psychotropic substance) worth Rs 390 crore has been seized by a joint team, and eight persons arrested from Mumbai, Gujarat, and Mysuru.
Deputy Commissioner Of Police (Zone 10) Datta Nalawade's Statement
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 10) Datta Nalawade said the gang was active in Mumbai and its outskirts. Out of the eight accused, three were involved in similar cases for several years. Sixteen cases related to the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act and physical assault were registered against one of the accused.
The police did not reveal the identities of all the accused, as the investigation is in its preliminary stage. They suspect that more people may be involved in the racket. The case was first registered by the Sakinaka police on April 24 and one Sadiq Shaikh, 27, a resident of Bandra West, was arrested in Sakinaka for possessing drugs intended for sale.
At the time, police seized 52gm of MD from him. During interrogation, the involvement of three more accused came to light. Initially, four were arrested from Mumbai, Gujarat, and Mysuru. Later, another four were arrested from the raided factory site in Mysuru. After the first arrest, the police seized an additional 4.53kg of MD worth Rs 8 crore from Kaman village in Vasai from two accused. One of them, Siraj Panjwani, 28, resides in Mira Road. On July 25, another arrest was made; that of Salim Shaikh alias Slim Langda, 45, a resident of Bandra Reclamation, who revealed the factory’s location.
On July 26, a Sakinaka police team led by investigating officer Dayanand Walave conducted a raid at the factory near Belavatha, in the Ring Road area of Mysuru, operating out of a blue cement shed. DCP Nalawade added, “There was a garage and a stall set up in front of the factory, with the actual drug production taking place behind it in an isolated space. We seized various chemicals, ovens, heaters, and other equipment. The contraband weighed 192.53kg, worth Rs 390 crore in the international market.”
He added that the police are probing whether this gang has any links to other drug manufacturing units dismantled in western Maharashtra and Nashik in the past many months. The court has sent four of the accused to judicial custody, while the other four, who were arrested on July 27, have been remanded to police custody for two days. Meanwhile, the Mysuru Commissioner of Police Seema Latkar has suspended the Narasimharaja police station inspector, Lakshmikanth Talawar, for dereliction of duty, under whose jurisdiction the factory is located.
Karnataka home minister Dr G. Parameshwar called it a “disturbing development”, as Mysuru is said to be a quiet place bereft of such activities. He added, “With the factory being unearthed, we are taking strict action against such activities. Even our police are investigating various angles of the incident.”
