Mumbai: ANC seizes contraband worth Rs 15 cr in 3 ops

The three arrested in the case

The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking. In a series of operations, ANC seized a variety of narcotics and apprehended seven drug peddlers, including three individuals from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Gujarat. The total worth of the seized narcotics, including MD (mephedrone), heroin, and charas, amounts to Rs 15 crore. The ANC uncovered a syndicate involved in sourcing MD from outside India.

Operation 1
The ANC Worli Unit, investigating a case from January 24 to February 5, arrested four individuals from the Santacruz and Varsova areas. They seized 5.735 kg of MD (mephedrone) valued at R11.46 crore, along with cash amounting to Rs 3.50 lakh. One of the accused holds a diploma in civil engineering from Karnataka and hails from Rajasthan. Further investigation revealed the involvement of another accused in coordinating drug deliveries from outside India.

Operation 2
The ANC Kandivli Unit, while patrolling Bandra East and Kurla East on February 8, apprehended two suspicious persons and found 350 gm of heroin in their possession. During a house search, an additional 150 gm of the contraband was found, resulting in a total seizure of 500 gm, valued at R2 crore. Investigations revealed that one of the accused had travelled from Uttarakhand to sell heroin in Mumbai.

Operation 3
The ANC Azad Maidan Unit, while patrolling near Dahisar Check Naka on February 9, apprehended an individual with 3 kg of Manali charas, valued at R1.20 crore. The arrested individual is a resident of Mehsana in Gujarat. "In all the cases, incriminating evidence was collected and the network involved in drug trafficking was identified. The ANC is conducting an in-depth investigation," said DCP Prakash Jadhav, ANC.

The ANC highlighted its successful operations in 2023 and 2024, including the seizure of a substantial quantity of contraband and the arrest of key drug peddlers, emphasising its commitment to combating drug trafficking in the region.