12 March,2026 02:47 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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Police have arrested two persons and seized mephedrone valued at Rs 22 lakh from them in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.
The seizure was made in the Bhiwandi area on Wednesday.
According to police, a team from the crime unit searched two men acting suspiciously in front of a school around 9 pm.
The two, identified as Vasim Salim Shaikh (42) and Sarim Shabbir Momin (23), were carrying mephedrone valued at Rs 22 lakh, the official said, reported PTI.
The Shanti Nagar police station has registered a first information report against the duo under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, reported PTI.
The police have also named one Jaib Amzad Pathan as a wanted accused in the case, the official said, reported PTI.
Investigations are underway to trace the source of the synthetic drug and identify the intended customers, the official added.
Meanwhile, the Customs department has seized narcotic substances, foreign currency, gold and precious stones worth more than Rs 46 crore in separate cases detected over a week at the Mumbai international airport, an official said on March 4, reported PTI.
A total of 44.292 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 44.292 crore in the illicit market, was recovered in different cases from nine passengers who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from Bangkok, said the official, reported PTI.
All these passengers were arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).
Notably, hydroponic weed refers to cannabis cultivated without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions in an indoor environment.
Additionally, 299 grams of a substance purported to be methaqualone (a psychotropic substance under NDPS Act), with an estimated illicit market value of Rs 74,75,000, was also seized, according to the official, reported PTI.
In five separate cases, Customs department personnel seized foreign and Indian currency equivalent to Rs 32,85,668, a total of 455 carats of natural and lab-grown diamonds valued at Rs 94,97,300 besides 21 karat gold jewellery weighing 160.790 grams and valued at Rs 21,51,473, he said, reported PTI.
Also, 1,203.69 carats of cut and polished natural emeralds, rubies, blue sapphires, amethyst and multi-stones, valued at Rs 15,16,127, were recovered from air passengers. All seizures were made under relevant provisions of the Customs Act and other applicable laws, the official added.
(With inputs from PTI)
