In a significant drug bust, Talegaon Dabhade police have arrested Ashfaquali Sajjad Ali Shaikh, a 40-year-old resident of New Gautam Nagar, Govandi West, for attempting to sell 5 kilograms of marijuana, valued at approximately Rs2.5 lakh.
The arrest came after a tip-off was received by the police while patrolling the area along the road leading to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Acting on the information, police set up a trap near Aditya Hotel, situated on the road connecting Somatne Phata to the expressway.
Police Constable Umakant Vishnu Navgire, who was involved in the operation, reported that the officers spotted Ashfaquali Shaikh loitering suspiciously at the location. Upon his detention, the police found the 5 kg of marijuana in his possession. The contraband was seized and is currently under examination.
The police investigation is being led by Police Sub-Inspector Khamgal. Authorities are working to determine whether Shaikh was part of a larger drug trafficking network and if other individuals are involved in the illegal sale of narcotics.
In a related incident, Pune Police arrested Mohammad Aslam Mohammad Ismail Merchant, a major trafficker from Gujarat, in August 2024, seizing Mephedrone worth Rs1 crore. The drugs had been delivered through a courier service, leading to the arrest of another individual, Viswanath Konapure, an employee of the company involved.
Both arrests are part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the growing drug trafficking problem in Maharashtra and other parts of the country. Further investigations are underway to uncover any larger networks involved in the illicit distribution of narcotics.
