Five arrested, including wanted Nigerian national; ANC operations were conducted across Malad, Jogeshwari, Dadar, and Navi Mumbai, targetting commercial-scale drug supply network
ANC units from across the city with the accused who were arrested. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has seized a large commercial quantity of mephedrone (MD) in operations across Malad, Jogeshwari, Dadar, and MIDC Navi Mumbai, arresting five people, including a Nigerian national who was a wanted criminal. The haul totals 4.034 kg of MD, valued at over Rs 10 crore.
In four recent operations, the Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Ghatkopar, Bandra, and Worli units arrested five individuals for possessing large commercial quantities of mephedrone (MD). The first case was cracked by the Ghatkopar unit, which, acting on a tip-off about a drug transaction in Jogeshwari, arrested 40-year-old Vinayak Yadav with 1.022 kg of MD worth over Rs 2.55 crore.
The Bandra unit made two detections, arresting three suspects, one from Malad and two from MIDC Navi Mumbai. The Malad accused, identified as 24-year-old Adnan Aamir Sheikh, was found with 766 grams of MD valued at Rs 1.19 crore. The two arrested in Navi Mumbai were in possession of 1.556 kg of the drug worth R3.89 crore. Police have withheld their identities, as they are suspected to be linked to a larger network currently under surveillance.
In the fourth detection, the Worli unit arrested a Nigerian national, 48-year-old Augustine Izuchukwu Iheme, from Dadar with 690 grams of MD worth R1.72 crore. Police said Iheme, a wanted accused in another drug case, had also been living illegally in India.
Police have urged citizens to support their efforts to make Mumbai a drug-free city. “If citizens encounter drugs or peddlers, they can report it to us on the ANC helpline number 9819111222 or to the Narcotics Control Bureau’s ‘Manas’ helpline at 1933. Their identity will be kept confidential,” an official said.
One of the biggest recent mephedrone (MD) seizures took place in May, when ANC teams raided locations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Karjat, recovering 12.664 kg of the drug worth Rs 24.47 crore and arresting six people. The operation was part of the ongoing ‘Drug-Free Govandi Campaign,’ which has so far resulted in drug seizures valued at over Rs 42 crore. In July, ANC officers arrested one suspect in Nagpada with 307 grams of MD valued at Rs 76 lakh.
Also in July, Mustafa Kubbawala, nephew of Salim Dola and cousin of Taher Salim Dola, was deported from the UAE and arrested upon his arrival in Mumbai. He is accused of supplying raw materials and chemicals to a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Sangli, from which police had seized 126.141 kg of the drug worth over Rs 252 crore last year.
“We are arresting all types of suppliers, from the big players to the smallest links in the chain. As a result, we have noticed that suppliers are now in alert mode, aware that they are under the radar. Our aim is to wipe out drugs from Mumbai completely,” said Navanath Dhavale, DCP, ANC.
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