Sangli police have successfully dismantled a mephedrone (MD) drug manufacturing operation in Vita MIDC, recovering a massive 14.5kg of the illegal substance worth Rs 29 crore. The bust followed a tip-off that the drugs were to be transported from a rented factory unit in the MIDC to Pune. Acting on the information, Superintendent of Police Sandip Ghuge directed a team to intercept the vehicles transporting the drugs, and they seized the consignment from the car boot.
A further investigation led police to the drug manufacturing facility, where they found not only the finished drugs ready for shipping but also raw materials and equipment used in production.
Three individuals were arrested in connection with the operation. The accused have been identified as Rahudip Dhanji Boricha, Suleman Johar Shaikh, and Balraj Amar Katari. One of the suspects had been assigned the task of transporting the drugs to Mumbai, while another was a chemistry graduate with the skills to produce the drugs. The third suspect was involved in logistics. The factory, rented for Rs 30,000 per month, was being used for the illicit operation.
In a similar operation carried out in March 2024, the Mumbai crime branch, along with Sangli police, had previously busted another drug manufacturing unit. Sangli’s Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil has since announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for anyone who provides valuable information on narcotic drug manufacturing and trafficking.
Authorities have indicated that further arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
