10 July,2025 04:04 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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An interstate drug racket operating out of Navi Mumbai has been busted, with the seizure of heroin valued at Rs 47 lakh and the arrest of nine persons, a police official said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.
Acting on inputs concerning drugs, the anti-narcotic cell of the Navi Mumbai police laid a trap in the CBD Belapur area and arrested two residents of Tarn Taran, Punjab, on the evening of July 4, an official release said, reported PTI.
Following interrogation of the duo and further investigation, seven more persons were arrested over the next five days in connection with the trafficking and sale of heroin, a highly addictive opioid drug made from morphine, it said.
A total of 120 grams of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 47 lakh, has been recovered in the operation, the release said, reported PTI.
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and a probe is underway to trace the origin of the contraband and to identify the intended recipients.
In another case, the police have arrested a 37-year-old Ivory Coast national and seized 1.51 kilograms of mephedrone (MD) drug valued at approximately Rs 2.12 crore from him in Thane district, a senior official said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
The arrest of the accused, Isa Bakayoka, made in Nilje in Dombivili town, is part of intensified police efforts against drug trafficking in the region, he said, reported PTI.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kalyan, Zone-III) Atul Zende informed that the Manpada police station registered an FIR under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act following the arrest.
"Acting on a tip-off that someone was to come to Nilje with contraband for sale, police laid a trap on July 7 at around 10.50 pm. They nabbed the accused when he arrived there with the contraband," he said, reported PTI.
Upon searching him, the police recovered mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug, valued at approximately Rs 2.12 crore, said the DCP.
Zende highlighted that a few days ago, the police made seizure of narcotics worth Rs 2 crore and arrested five persons.
"In the past eight days, the police had seized drugs worth over Rs 4 crore from Nilje and Palava areas (of Thane district)," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
