Maharashtra ANTF busts mephedrone racket, destroys 3 factories in Bengaluru

The Maharashtra AntiNarcotics Task Force ANTF has busted an interstate drug manufacturing and distribution network dismantling three mephedrone factories in Bengaluru and seizing contraband and machinery worth Rs 5588 crore officials said on Sunday reported news agency PTIThe action which is part of a statewide crackdown against narcotics began with the arrest of a man on the PuneMumbai Highway last weekThe Konkan unit of the ANTF seized mephedrone worth Rs 148 crore from the accused Abdul Kader Rashid Sheikh on the PuneMumbai highway at Vashi village in Navi Mumbai on December 21 reported PTIA case was registered and the probe led the team to Prashant Yallapa Patil a resident of Belgaum who was involved in drug manufacturing and they found out that the three factories were operating in Bengaluru reported PTIActing on this information ANTF teams earlier this week arrested Suraj Ramesh Yadav and Malkhan Ramlal Bishnoi both residents of Rajasthan who were running the illegal operation in the Karnataka capital the release stated reported PTIThe accused led investigators to the manufacturing units in NG Golahalli Yerappanahalli and Kannur and the raids resulted in the seizure of 214 kg of mephedrone both in solid and liquid forms reported PTIMachinery and chemicals used for production were confiscated and all three factories were destroyedPreliminary findings suggest that mephedrone produced at these units was supplied to multiple states and the proceeds were used to purchase real estate in Bengaluru reported PTIFour persons have been arrested in connection with the case so far while efforts are on to nab two key suspectsMaharashtra ANTF busts three mephedrone units in Bengaluru 4 held with drugs worth Rs 55 crMeanwhile the Maharashtra AntiNarcotics Task Force ANTF busted three mephedrone manufacturing units in Karnataka capital Bengaluru leading to the arrest of four persons and seizure of contraband worth Rs 5588 crore a police official said on Saturday reported PTIThe chain of events began on December 21 when the Konkan unit of ANTF conducted a raid in Vashi in Navi Mumbai and arrested one Abdul Qadir Rashid Shaikh along with 1488 kilograms of mephedrone worth Rs 148 crore he said reported PTIHe led the probe team to accused Prashant Yallappa Patil a resident of Belgaum who is the key person linked to the manufacture of mephedrone at three units in Bengaluru In an operation monitored by ANTF chief Sharda Raut and superintendent M M Makandar a team arrested Suraj Ramesh Yadav and Malkhan Ramlal Bishnoi after conducting raids at these units he said reported PTIYadav and Bishnoi both from Rajasthan have confessed to preparing synthetic drugs at these units We seized 410 kilograms of mephedrone 17 kilograms of liquid mephedrone as well as items used in the manufacture of the contraband The total value of all seized items is Rs 5588 crore the official added reported PTIThe drugs from these units were allegedly supplied in various states with the accused investing the proceeds of crime in buying real estate in the Karnataka capital he informed citing the probeApart from arrested accused Shaikh Patil Yadav and Bishnoi we are making all out efforts to nab two key persons in this drug network the official said reported PTIWith inputs from PTI