In a significant drug bust, the Sakinaka police raided a mephedrone manufacturing factory in Vasai and seized drugs worth Rs8 crore. Three individuals were arrested, and the mastermind, Kaluram Chaudhary, remains on the run.
On April 24, the police, acting on a tip-off, arrested Sadiq Shaikh (28) at Retiwala Compound in Sakinaka, seizing 53 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs10 lakh. During the investigation, Shaikh provided leads that helped the police trace the factory in Kamangaon, Vasai.
The factory, disguised as a cement block manufacturing unit, was found to be manufacturing mephedrone. Police seized a centrifugal machine and two refrigerators used in the production process. The centrifugal machine was used to convert liquids to solids, while the refrigerators were employed to cool the substances into their crystal form. The police recovered four kilograms of mephedrone from the factory on April 26, with a street value of Rs8 crore.
Siraj Panjwani (57) and Sayyad Irani were also arrested during the operation. Both have a criminal history under the NDPS Act. Police confirmed that all three men were integral to the drug supply chain.
Authorities revealed that Kaluram Chaudhary, a fugitive, supplied the drugs to Panjwani, a well-off individual from Mira Road. Police are actively searching for Chaudhary, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation.
Since 2023, the Sakinaka police have made substantial drug seizures, totaling Rs450 crore, and have busted factories in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
