Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 11 has arrested Uzair Niaz Khan (27) after recovering 23 grams of Mephedrone (MD) worth Rs4.5 lakh, along with a pistol and two live cartridges from his residence in the Ram Mandir area of Goregaon West. The operation, which took place on Wednesday, was based on a tip-off and executed under the guidance of senior officers.
The Crime Branch team raided a flat in Amy Complex, where they discovered the narcotics along with an electronic weighing machine, which is allegedly used for packaging and measuring drugs for sale. The surprise came when officers inspected a chair frequently used by the accused, only to find a pistol hidden nearby, along with two live cartridges.
A police officer commented, “Had we not been cautious, a major incident could have occurred,” suggesting the potential danger of the situation if Khan had been able to access the firearm during the raid. Khan claimed that he kept the pistol as a hobby, but law enforcement officials are concerned about the dangers of drug dealers possessing firearms.
Further investigation revealed that Khan has a history of drug peddling and was previously arrested by the Oshiwara and Goregaon police for similar offenses. Khan has been booked under relevant sections of the Bombay Narcotic Drugs (BNS) Act and the Arms Act, and authorities are now probing his drug network and connections to larger criminal syndicates.
This arrest highlights the growing concerns about the links between drug trafficking and firearms, as well as the risks law enforcement officers face during such operations.
