Mumbai Police on Sunday busted a mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit on the outskirts of the city, seizing the drug along with raw materials and equipment worth approximately Rs 13.4 crore. Five people have been arrested in connection with the case.

The unit came to light after the Tilak Nagar Police in Mumbai recovered 57 grams of MD from a suspect on October 5. Following interrogation, the suspect revealed details about the supply chain, prompting the police to track down four more individuals allegedly involved in the production and sale of the drug in Mumbai and Mira Road.

Subsequent raids were conducted at an MD factory in Rashid Compound, Pelhar, at Vasai. During the raids, the police seized 6.675 kg of MD as well as raw materials and other equipment required for the production of the drug.

The arrested individuals include:

Sohel Abdul Raouf Khan, 36, from Narayan Nagar, Ghatkopar (West),

Mehtab Sherali Khan, 29, from Shivajinagar, Govandi

Iqbal Bilal Sheikh, 33, from Rafik Nagar, Govandi

Mohsin Qayoom Sayyed, 40, from Gautam Nagar, Govandi

Ayub Ali Abubakar Siddiqui, 23, from Panvel.

While Khan is allegedly involved in the sale of MD, the other four have been arrested for manufacturing the drug.

The raids were conducted under the supervision of the police commissioner, Greater Mumbai, with senior officers, including the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Devnar Division, and additional director general of police (ADGP) of various divisions overseeing the operation. Multiple units were involved in the operation.

Police officers said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow as they try to map the full extent of the network.

Source