Maharashtra Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandip Doiphode | Image Source: X

Thane: An illegal chemical manufacturing facility in Telangana that supplied crucial precursor materials for the Mephedrone drug valued at Rs 27 lakh has been busted by the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar Police, an officer said on Saturday, adding that the manufacturer has been nabbed.

Addressing a news conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandip Doiphode detailed multi-state operations that have resulted in the seizure of massive quantities of narcotics and regulated chemicals so far.

MBVV Police intercepted two suspects in Nalasopara (East) in Palghar district on June 24, and recovered 112 grams of Mephedrone from their possession, he said.
During the investigation, the crime branch uncovered two clandestine MD manufacturing laboratories situated on agricultural lands in Sandhan village of Kutch District in Gujarat and Kosada Kala in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh.
Prior to the latest breakthrough, law enforcement had already seized nearly 70 kgs of Mephedrone, significant cash reserves, 260 litres of essential precursor chemicals, and specialised laboratory equipment.
The investigation showed that these suspects were procuring 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone, a highly controlled chemical powder strictly regulated under the NDPS Act for the synthesis of Mephedrone, from an illicit production unit operating out of Telangana, according to MBVV Police.
Acting on this intelligence, a specialised team from MBVV crime branch unit-4 raided an industrial unit in the IDA Pashamylaram area of Patancheru in Sangareddy district of Telangana on October 21.
"With tactical support from the Patancheru Police under the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate, authorities apprehended the prime chemical manufacturer, Ramesh Babu Sake, and successfully destroyed the clandestine facility," police said.
Police seized almost 45 Kg of 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone valued at over Rs 27 lakh, alongside raw chemical compounds and laboratory apparatus.
With the latest operation, the total number of arrested individuals has reached 25, including drug manufacturers, precursor chemical suppliers, smugglers, peddlers, and financial handlers, police added.
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