In one of the largest drug busts in recent times, Mumbai Police uncovered a factory in Nashik producing mephedrone, with an estimated international market value of Rs 300 crore. During the raid, authorities seized 150 kilograms of the narcotic.
The factory is reportedly owned by Bhushan Patil, brother of Lalit Patil, who recently gained attention for allegedly running a drug cartel from a Pune-based hospital. Police are actively seeking both brothers for questioning in connection with the case.
The investigation began on August 8 when the Saki Naka police arrested two individuals for selling mephedrone, a synthetic drug often used as a cheaper substitute for cocaine. Among them, 42-year-old Anwar Sayyad was caught in possession of 10 grams of the substance. Subsequent arrests in Dharavi led authorities to Arif Shaikh, who was later nabbed in Hyderabad along with mephedrone and firearms.
Further investigation uncovered a network of buyers, culminating in the arrest of three more individuals who had purchased the contraband from Zeeshan Shaikh (34) in Nashik Road. This ultimately led the police to the Nashik factory, exposing a well-organized drug manufacturing and distribution operation across the state.
The Mumbai Police continue to investigate the network and track all individuals connected to the production and sale of the synthetic drugs.
