The accused, identified as Rubina Niyazu Sheikh, was arrested from the Mumbra area of Thane following investigations into the drug haul, in which five persons were taken into custody last month, an official said
According to police, the accused allegedly received consignments of mephedrone and supplied them across Mumbai. Representational Pic
An alleged woman drug peddler with multiple cases registered against her has been arrested in connection with the seizure of mephedrone worth Rs 27 crore in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Rubina Niyazu Sheikh, was arrested from the Mumbra area of Thane following investigations into the drug haul, in which five persons were taken into custody last month, an official said.
Role exposed through call records: Cops
Her involvement surfaced after an analysis of call detail records (CDRs) of the arrested accused and other wanted persons showed that she was in frequent contact with them, he added.
According to police, the accused allegedly received consignments of mephedrone and supplied them in Mumbai and adjoining areas.
Sheikh had earlier come under the scanner after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested her and her associate, Neelofer Sherali Cendole, from a dargah in Raigad district. Following the arrests, drugs, gold and more than Rs 1 crore in cash were recovered from her Bandra residence, the official said.
Last month, the Mumbra police seized 13 kg of mephedrone valued at Rs 27.2 crore and arrested five persons, including four suppliers from Madhya Pradesh.
The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) is likely to be invoked against Sheikh and her associates, the official added, noting that more arrests are likely in the case.
Wildlife influencer arrested in Rs 2.6 crore drug trafficking case
Meanwhile, in an another case, Chhattisgarh Police last week busted a Rs 2.6 crore ganja trafficking racket under Operation Nishchay, allegedly led by a man who projected himself online as a snake rescuer and wildlife conservationist.
Wildlife experts in Maharashtra have now demanded a thorough probe to determine whether the influencer, known as ‘Sarpamitra Akash Jadhav’, was also involved in the illegal capture, supply or trafficking of snakes and other wild animals in the state.
Experts seek wider probe
Advocate Pawan Sharma, founder and president of RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare), told mid-day that the illegal exchange of snake species has been prevalent among certain “sarpamitras” and snake handlers for decades. “There has been information in the past about king cobras and other protected species being brought to Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, according to Forest Department sources,” Sharma said.
“It is no secret that wildlife trafficking has long been linked with other organised crimes such as narcotics, arms smuggling, hawala operations and underworld networks. These syndicates operate in a highly sophisticated and low-profile manner. There is an urgent need for a multi-jurisdictional task force with proper infrastructure and manpower to curb such crimes,” he added.
Sharma said a detailed investigation across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region would likely reveal more links and individuals involved.
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