03 June,2026 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
The Sakinaka police’s Anti-Narcotics Squad, after the raid in Narmada district, Gujarat
In one of its biggest breakthroughs in the ongoing crackdown on synthetic drugs, the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Crime Branch has dismantled another major MD (mephedrone) manufacturing unit in Telangana, exposing a sprawling network involving drug manufacturers, financiers, chemical suppliers, distributors, and an alleged interstate prostitution kingpin.
The latest operation is part of a wider investigation that began on April 4, when Nayanagar police seized 1.324 kg of MD worth Rs 2.66 crore from a flat in Mira Road East and registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Firdos Arbaaz Qureshi and her husband Arbaaz Vakil Qureshi.
The MBVV crime Branch team with materials seized at the Telangana farmhouse. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The investigation was subsequently handed over to MBVV Crime Branch Unit-4, which uncovered a vast narcotics network stretching across Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
Police said the Crime Branch is continuing to investigate financial transactions, interstate supply routes, and international links connected to the syndicate. Further arrests are expected as the probe progresses. "This cannot simply be termed a system failure. The profit margins in synthetic drugs are enormous, and that attracts organised criminal groups. We have dismantled several established networks, but new networks continue to emerge. This is not a battle that will end overnight. We will continue to pursue every case to its logical conclusion by identifying the manufacturers, financiers, suppliers, distributors and beneficiaries. The battle against synthetic drugs remains a long-term challenge," Kaushik said.
Niket Kaushik, MBVV police commissioner
We have been targeting MD manufacturing units. On September 5, 2025, we busted a major drug factory at Wagdevi Lab in Cherlapally, Telangana. In December 2025, another MD manufacturing unit was detected in Rajasthan. The present investigation began with the Malvani case in April 2026, where two illegal drug factories were dismantled. During further investigation, our Crime Branch team traced the network to Zaheerabad in Telangana, where two more factories were detected on May 31.
Material seized
Crime Branch officers raided a two-acre farmhouse that had been turned into a drug-making unit at Pichargadi Tanda in Zaheerabad, Sangareddy district of Telangana. The raid resulted in the seizure ofâ¦
>> 3 kg of MD
>> 3.5 kg of 2-Bromo-4'-methylpropiophenone
>> Around 800 litres of chloroform
>> Around 800 litres of monomethylamine
>> 300 litres of acetone
>> 250 litres of hydrogen chloride
>> A total of 2293 litres of chemicals and precursor substances used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs seized
>> Value of seized drugs, chemicals, and laboratory equipment estimated at Rs 20.72 crore
Investigators believe that nearly 50 kg of MD worth about Rs 100 crore had already been manufactured and distributed. The unit was producing 2-3 kg per day, and operators planned to expand this to 10 kg per day. "That would translate to drugs worth nearly Rs 20 crore every day," Kaushik said.
Police also found aa manufacturing facility at Ramnagar in Zaheerabad. Though production had not begun,The unit was capable of producing around 10 kg of MD daily.
The farmhouse belonged to Nasir alias Baba Janimiya Sheikh of Hyderabad, who allegedly operated an interstate prostitution syndicate. Police claim Baba has multiple cases registered against him, with one recently registered at Arnala Sagari police station within MBVV limits. Baba had purchased a new SUV and was on his way to celebrate when he was arrested, and the SUV seized. Officials are examining his assets and financial transactions.
Investigators believe Baba's entry into the narcotics trade began while he was lodged in prison, where he allegedly came into contact with Sandeep Veeraswamy Naidu, another accused facing drug-related charges.
Several chemicals were sourced from Indian manufacturers and suppliers. However, many of these are used in industrial processes. Suppliers have been traced, but there is no evidence they were aware of the chemicals' intended use.
The investigation also revealed the role of Dayanand alias Daya Muddanar, accused no. 12 in the Malvani case, who is allegedly known in narcotics circles as âDoctor'. Officials said Sandeep Naidu learned the process from Muddanar. Information obtained during the interrogation of Muddanar eventually led investigators to Naidu and the Telangana laboratory.
So far, police have arrested 18 accused from four states in connection with the case. The latest arrests include Sandeep Veeraswamy Naidu from Khalapur in Raigad, Nasir alias Baba Janimiya Sheikh from Hyderabad, and Mehmood Mehboob Khan from Hyderabad.
Police uncovered foreign links in the procurement of precursor chemicals. "A key chemicals was imported through ports and courier channels with help of foreign contacts. The international supply chain is under verification. Action will be taken once evidence is established," Kaushik said.
The Anti-Narcotics Squad (ANS) of Sakinaka police dismantled an MD manufacturing unit in Gujarat. On May 21, the ANS apprehended a woman in Sakinaka attempting to sell 101 grams of MD. Her arrest led to Wazul Qamar Abul Wafa Chaudhary alias Panu, 56, a resident of Mumbra. Investigations revealed he had been operating the facility from a rented house in Varkhad village, in Narmada district, Gujarat.
>> 20.040 kg of liquid MD
>> 26 kg of 2-Bromo-4'-methylpropiophenone
>> 50 litres of 4-methylpropiophenone
>> 20 litres of monomethylamine
>> 13.5 litres of bromine
>> 35 litres of chloroform
>> Three stirrer machines
>> Two commercial cooling units
>> Five circular laboratory flasks
>> One heating unit
>> The total value of materials seized from the factory was estimated at Rs 74.76 crore
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (Western Region) Abhinav Deshmukh, DCP Zone-3 Datta Nalawade, ACP Pradeep Mairale, and Senior Police Inspectors Sunil Yadav and Sapna Kshirsagar.
