The police in Maharashtra`s Palghar district have arrested two persons after recovering mephedrone, a banned drug, valued at Rs 2.96 lakh from them, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

A patrol team on Tuesday night spotted the duo, Vidaya Swapnil Sarvankar and Bharat Pradeep Joshi, moving suspiciously between Charoti and Dahanu on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, he said.

“The police team questioned the two. It subsequently recovered 14.820 grams of mephedrone and a weighing scale from them,” said inspector Avinash Mandale of Kasa police station, reported PTI.

The synthetic stimulant, valued at Rs 2.96 lakh, was seized, and the two accused were taken into custody, he said, adding that a case has been registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

DRI seizes cocaine of Rs 21.78 crore hidden in dates from passenger at Mumbai airport

In another case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested a passenger at the Mumbai international airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into India with an estimated value of Rs 21.78 crore, by concealing it in dates, and the intended recipient, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The dates filled with cocaine powder were recovered from the baggage of the passenger who landed at the airport, reported PTI.

A case was registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation is underway.

Nigerian national held with Rs 11 lakh drugs in Palghar

In another case, police have arrested a 54-year-old Nigerian national after seizing 57 gm of MD drug, commonly known as Methadone, valued at Rs 11.4 lakh from his possession in Maharashtra`s Palghar district, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The Anti-Narcotics Cell personnel spotted the man behaving suspiciously near Global City in Virar on Monday.

During his search, the police found the MD drug concealed in his possession, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Madan Ballal said, reported PTI.

The accused, identified as Yakub Gaffar Olasunkami, a Nigerian national residing in Nallasopara area, was taken into custody, he said, reported PTI.

A case was registered against him under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

“We are investigating the source of the drugs and the identity of the intended recipients. The network involved in the supply chain is being traced,” Ballal said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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