The NCB said the arrested include a woman who is also the kingpin of the interstate drug syndicate.
The Narcotics Control Bureau’s Mumbai zone officials have busted a major drug trafficking syndicate operating from Dongri and seized 20 kg of Mephedrone estimated to be worth Rs 50 crore. The agency has also arrested three members of the racket, it said on Saturday.
NCB officials on Saturday said that in pursuance of intensive operational activities and active intelligence, the agency has unearthed an interstate drug trafficking syndicate wherein key members, including a woman kingpin, were arrested from Dongri.
Huge amounts of cash and gold ornaments were seized which were amassed from the financial proceeds of the drug money, the agency said in a statement released on Saturday by Amit Ghawate, Zonal Director, NCB, Mumbai.
The NCB had received specific information about a group actively involved in bulk quantity Mephedrone trafficking and distribution of the drug in various parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Further work out of the information led the NCB to a Dongri-based person N. Khan.
On June 9, NCB officials placed a discreet trap around Khan’s location and soon, it was noticed that his associate A Ali was also present in the area. Shortly, Ali was intercepted and 3 kg Mephedrone was seized from him.
Immediate follow up action leading to house search of Khan led to recovery of another 2 kg from his premise. Spot interrogation of Khan resulted in the identification of a Dongri-based woman, A F Shaikh, who supplied the drugs to him, the agency stated.
NCB then searched Shaikh’s place. During the preliminary search, 15 kg Mephedrone was seized. Further, extended searches led to the recovery of cash to the tune of Rs 1,10,24,000 and gold ornaments weighing 186.6 gm.
During questioning, initially the woman tried to divert the spot investigation but upon tactful approach by the NCB officials, she admitted that the cash and gold were accumulated from the financial proceeds of the drug money. A few more incriminating documents were seized, the NCB said.
During interrogation of all three accused, it was noted that they were involved in this illicit drug trafficking business for the past about 7-10 years, NCB officials said.
“The supplier woman had her networks across many cities and since she was dealing in bulk quantities of drugs worth in crores, she had also set up a company to façade the drug trafficking and its financial transactions,” NCB officials added.
A few of the members of this syndicate were already booked under various sections of the NDPS Act 1985. The agency is further looking for the remaining associates and other assets that evolved from the drug money.
