Amrutha Avasarala, Pune
Pune police seized 1700 Kg of mephedrone drug in Pune city as an outcome of several raids carried out in Daund. So far, five people have been arrested and the racket is being investigated by the crime branch.
Mephedrone is a synthetically produced nervous system-stimulating drug artificially produced in a lab. The drug is locally called with multiple names such as meow meow, M-cat, white magic, and drone.
The manufacturing of the drug is said to be carried out in a systematic production line, under multiple factories, especially in the Kurkumbh region. The factories are set up in the name of pharmaceuticals but run on illegal production of drugs. Several raids were carried out in a chemical manufacturing factory in Daund and also in two godowns in Vishrantwadi where the drug was stored.
The issue came to light when three salt traders were caught with 1.75 kgs of mephedrone worth 3.5 crores, on Monday. The two go-downs were searched where 50 kgs of the drug were recovered. On further investigation, the police reached the manufacturing unit at Daund. In the factory, over 650 kgs of the drug and much larger quantities of raw substances were seized.
Pune Police Commissioner, Amitesh Kumar shared details of the case saying over 1,700 kgs were recovered worth 3,000 crores of rupees. As of now, five have been arrested. The three salt traders on Monday and two on Tuesday from the factory at Kurkumbh. The investigation is unveiling numerous suspects. The commissioner said that the investigation led to multiple suspects in New Delhi and also out of India. Two shops in New Delhi were raided and approximately 400 kg of this drug was found in these shops. As the investigation is progressing, the issue is linking multiple people in various geographic locations.
Mr. Kumar told the Indian Express, “The investigation points to a nationwide network of mephedrone production and trafficking with possible international linkages” and also hinted at connections with locations abroad. He further added that they found links of this racket to all the metro cities in India and at least six to seven major cities in Maharashtra.
Even in October-November last year, there have been instances where small pockets of the issue were being exposed. Now, a bigger picture is being exposed as the investigation is being carried out. The issue started in Pune and has now reached Delhi and many other major cities of Maharashtra on investigation and search operations. Further unveiled connections with foreign nationals.