31 May,2026 09:11 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Acting on the tip-off, officers launched a surveillance operation and intercepted two scooters at the location. Representational Pic/File
Thane Police in Maharashtra arrested three suspects after seizing 500 grams of mephedrone (MD) crystal powder worth an estimated Rs 70 lakh, along with a country-made pistol and nine live cartridges, reported the PTI.
The arrests were made during a crime branch operation in the Mumbra area of Thane district.
According to police, Crime Branch Unit-1 received specific information on May 27 about a suspected MD drug transaction taking place near the Old Kharegaon toll naka in Mumbra.
Acting on the tip-off, officers launched a surveillance operation and intercepted two scooters at the location.
During the search, police recovered 500 grams of MD crystal powder from the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rehman Abdul Khan, Siddhant Sanjay Tamboli and Sahil Nasim Khan.
In addition to the narcotics, officers also seized a country-made pistol and nine live cartridges from the suspects.
A case has been registered at Kalwa Police Station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.
Police said the investigation is continuing to determine the source of the drugs and whether the accused have links to a larger narcotics network.
The three accused were produced before a court and have been remanded in police custody until 2 June.
Further investigation is underway.
In an another incident, earlier this month, the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police's Crime Branch have busted an mephedrone (MD) drug manufacturing racket operating across multiple locations in Mumbai and the neighbouring Thane district, an official had earlier said.
The officials seized narcotic substances, chemicals and laboratory equipment collectively worth over Rs 13.65 crore, he said.
Initially, the case first came to light after police raided a flat in the Nayanagar area of Mira Road East and recovered 1 kg 324 grams of MD drug valued at Rs 2.66 crore from the residence of a woman identified as Firdos Arbaaz Qureshi.
During the probe, officials found that the seized contraband allegedly belonged to her husband, Arbaaz Vakil Qureshi.
Based on the recovery, the Nayanagar Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch for a deeper investigation into what officials suspect is a larger drug syndicate. So far, police have arrested 13 accused, including two women and 11 men, in connection with the case.
As the investigation progressed, Crime Branch officials unearthed multiple alleged drug manufacturing and storage units operating in the Malvani and Gorai areas of Mumbai.
Raids conducted at Saman Nagar in Malvani, Azmi Nagar in Malvani and Mauje Manori in Gorai resulted in the seizure of 6 kg 773 grams of MD drugs and nearly 255 litres of chemicals allegedly used in the large-scale production of the synthetic narcotic.
(with PTI inputs)
