India: Drugs worth $1.2 billion seized from two cities, former pilot among six arrested
Drugs
On Friday, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) unit in the country’s financial capital Mumbai seized 60 kilogrammes of high-quality mephedrone (MD) which is reportedly worth at least Rs 120 crore ($1.2 billion), said officers involved in the seizure.
Furthermore, the officials also busted an entire syndicate and detained at least six people. Among those arrested were the kingpin of the cartel, his key associate, and a former Air India pilot, said reports. The Naval Intelligence Unit first gave information about suspicious activities involving a few people in the Indian state of Gujarat’s Jamnagar.
Subsequently, the NCB Mumbai unit team led by zonal director Amit Ghawate coordinated with the authorities in Gujarat for close monitoring of the suspects, said a media report. On October 3, they conducted the first raid in Jamnagar and seized 10 kgof MD and arrested four key people, said NCB Deputy Director General Sanjay Singh. They were later identified as S G Mahida, S M Chowdhury and Muthu P D, from Mumbai and Bhaskar V was arrested from Gujarat.
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According to NCB officials, Mahida was an Air India pilot from 2016 to 2018. Muthu had been arrested earlier in 2001 with 350 kg of Mandrax, but has been out on bail since 2008, reported the local media. Following interrogation and further investigation, the police found major drug linkages and associates who were operating from Mumbai.
On Thursday, the NCB recovered 50 more kgof MD in a godown located at SB Path, Fort, Mumbai, said a statement by the officials. Subsequently, they also arrested the kingpin M I Ali and M F Chisty from Mumbai. Further investigation led the NCB to conclude that the substances found in Gujarat and Mumbai are the same, said a media report.
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MD is a stimulant drug which is more commonly known as Meow Meow or M-Cat in the market and is classified as a New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), said media reports.
(With inputs from agencies)
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