In a major operation ahead of the Ganeshotsav celebrations, Pune’s Anti-Narcotics Cell raided a residence in Kondhwa, leading to the seizure of 202 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs40 lakhs, along with a locally-made pistol. The raid was part of a swift crackdown on drug trafficking in the city.
The target of the operation was Sameer Sharif Shaikh, a 22-year-old resident of Syed Qazi Heights, Kondhwa, who was suspected of possessing illegal narcotics. Based on a tip-off, the Anti-Narcotics Unit swiftly moved in, executing the raid under the supervision of Inspector Ulhas Kadam, and seizing the drugs, a firearm, and mobile phones, bringing the total value of the haul to approximately Rs42 lakhs.
The successful operation was carried out with the support of Additional Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner Nikhil Pingle, and Assistant Commissioner Ganesh Ingle, along with a team led by Sub-Inspectors Digambar Kokate and Sandeep Shirke.
In a separate action, three individuals were arrested for attempting to sell marijuana in different parts of Pune. Ayush Anant Shinde (20) was apprehended in Bibwewadi with 530 grams of marijuana, while Akash Raju Ghorpade (23) and Dhananjay Dashrath Pawar (24) were arrested on Nagar Road with 705 grams of marijuana. A case was registered against Ghorpade and Pawar at the Airport Police Station, with the arrests made by a team led by Senior Inspector Sudarshan Gaikwad of the Anti-Narcotics Unit.
The recent arrests come on the heels of another successful operation by the Anti-Narcotics Cell, in which Mohammad Aslam Mohammad Ismail Merchant, a trafficker from Gujarat, was apprehended with ₹1 crore worth of mephedrone. Merchant was reportedly supplying narcotics to various parts of the country, including Pune.
The ongoing efforts by Pune’s Anti-Narcotics Cell aim to curb the growing menace of drug trafficking in the city, particularly during the festive season when demand for illegal substances often spikes. The arrests are seen as a significant step in disrupting drug networks in Pune and surrounding regions.