Maharashtra: DRI busts mephedrone factory in Satara, seizes drugs worth Rs 55 crore

Teams from the country's premier anti-smuggling agency carried out a raid and unearthed a fully operational laboratory, equipped for mephedrone production, camouflaged as a poultry farm. The unit was frequently shifting locations to evade detection, officials said.

The seizure included 11.848 kg of the drug in liquid form, 9.326 kg in semi-liquid form and 738 grams in crystalline form, along with 71.5 kg of raw material capable of yielding another 15 kg of mephedrone, collectively worth about Rs 55 crore, the official said, reported PTI.

Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant and is commonly described as a party drug. It carries serious health risks.

Three persons, including the manufacturer or "cook", the "financer-consigner", and the poultry farm owner, were apprehended at the spot, an official said, adding that the first batch of the contraband had been hidden at the farm owner's residence, reported PTI.

In a follow-up operation, DRI officials nabbed two more persons, en route to collect the final product, near an old octroi toll naka in a densely forested area, he said.

Of the five arrested, four had prior arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act or prosecution under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act), the official said, reported PTI.

This is the second raid on a drug manufacturing unit in Satara district in the last two months. Last month, the Mumbai Crime Branch conducted a raid at Jawali and busted a clandestine drug manufacturing unit.

Navi Mumbai cops bust drug racket with Punjab link; 15 held

In another case, the Navi Mumbai police's Anti Narcotics Cell has arrested 15 persons after busting a racket in which heroin and opium were being brought here from Punjab, an official said on Friday, reported PTI.

Drugs worth Rs 1.19 crore have been seized in this operation, the official added.

"The racket's mastermind Kulmeet Singh Dalvir Singh Randhawa alias Fauji, was arrested on January 21, while his sons Sunny Randhawa and Vicky Randhawa were held earlier. The accused were procuring heroin and opium from Punjab and transporting these to Navi Mumbai through truck drivers before selling it in various parts of the city," he said, reported PTI.

All those arrested are lodged in Taloja jail, the official said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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