In a significant crackdown on narcotics and organized crime, the Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) arrested three individuals in possession of mephedrone and linked 13 others to a cross-state liquor smuggling network tied to the notorious Bishnoi gang.
The operation began on June 4 in Gandhinagar, where officials seized 2.5 grams and 280 milligrams of mephedrone, Rs5.22 lakh cash, and valuables worth Rs5.27 lakh. Soheb alias Mama Ibrahim Khatalsab Sheikh was first arrested, revealing the drugs were sourced from Imran, identified as Yasin Miyaan alias Imran Sherumiyaan Syed. Subsequently, Mohammad Hanif Mohammad Siddique Syed was also apprehended from Shah Alam, Ahmedabad.
Separately, 13 individuals including nine Bishnoi gang members from Rajasthan and four recipients from Gujarat were booked under the stringent Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GUJCTOC) Act for smuggling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from Rajasthan, Goa, and Punjab into Gujarat. Key accused Ravi Naumal Kukdeja alias Sidhi was arrested near Udaipur and handed over for further investigation.
Both cases are under active investigation, with further arrests anticipated.