The Nashik City Police carried out two successful operations, seizing mephedrone (MD), banned gutka, and vehicles involved in smuggling, with the total seizure valued at Rs 14.5 lakh.
In the first case, the crime branch arrested Sumit Ashok Dhayinje (27) and Shakir Hasan Sayyed (32) for allegedly carrying MD for sale. Acting on a tip-off received by Assistant Sub-Inspector Gulab Sonar, police set a trap in the Manur area on the Nashik–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Road.
Senior Inspector Sushila Kolhe from the Anti-Narcotics Squad also took part in the operation. Police intercepted an autorickshaw carrying the accused and found 8.5 grams of mephedrone worth Rs 45,000. The autorickshaw and a mobile phone, collectively valued at Rs 2.1 lakh, were also seized. A complaint was registered at Adgaon police station.
In a separate action, the crime branch intercepted a pickup vehicle on Peth Road, seizing banned scented tobacco (gutka) worth Rs 5.4 lakh. The vehicle, coming from Gujarat via Tavali Phata, was suspected of smuggling the contraband for illegal sale in Nashik.
The police, acting on information received by Crime Branch officer Muktar Shaikh, laid a trap and seized the gutka being transported from Saputara, Gujarat. A pickup vehicle worth Rs 7 lakh was also confiscated, bringing the total value of seized goods in both cases to Rs 14.5 lakh.
