Pune Anti-Narcotics Cell Cracks Down on Drug Syndicate, Arrests 5 with Seizure of Mephedrone Worth Rs 25 Lakh

Pune, 23rd January 2024: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Cell-1 of the Crime Branch Pune City Police successfully arrested five individuals involved in the smuggling and sale of Mephedrone (MD), a synthetic drug, worth Rs 25,02,000.

The operation, conducted within the limits of Hadapsar, Lashkar, Faraskhana, and Bund Garden police stations in Pune city, saw the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, resulting in the dismantling of connections reaching Pune, Mumbai, and Gujarat.

The operation, initiated under the directives of Pune Police Commissioner Ritesh Kumar, Additional Commissioner (Crime) Ramnath Pokle, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amol Zende, aimed at curbing the rising drug-related crimes in Pune city. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime-1, Sunil Tambe, issued specific instructions to Police Inspector Ashwini Satpute of Anti-Narcotics Cell-1, who then directed the officers and police staff to carry out combing operations in key areas.

Details of the arrests and seizures are as follows:

1. Hadapsar Police Station (January 2, 2024):
– Accused: Shivam Shivprasad Sonune (21), resident of Manjari, Pune.
– Seized: 5 gm 300 ml MD worth Rs. 1,06,000, mobile handset worth Rs. 10,000.
– Charges: Section 8 (c), 22 (b) of NDPS Act.

2. Faraskhana Police Station (January 2, 2024):
– Accused: Arbaaz Rafiq Bagewadi (26), resident of Kondhwa, Pune, and Afaq Ansar Khan.
– Seized: Rs. 1,28,000, 3 gm MD, a mobile phone worth Rs. 60,000, Honda Dio two-wheeler.
– Charges: Section 8 (c), 22 (a), 29 of the NDPS Act.

3. Lashkar Police Station (January 6, 2024):
– Accused: Mohammad Altaf Patel (24), resident of Pune.
– Seized: Rs. 1,17,000, 5 gm 800 mg MD worth Rs. 1,16,000, mobile phone, Vodafone Idea Limited company SIM card.
– Charges: Section 8 (c), 22 (b) of NDPS Act.

4. Bund Garden Police Station (January 12, 2024):
– Accused: Viresh Naginbhai Rupasari (53), resident of Parle East Mumbai.
– Seized: Rs. 22,37,200, 107 gm 600 mg MD worth Rs. 21,52,000, cash, electronic scale, mobile phones, pouch, paper bags.
– Charges: Section 8 (c), 22 (c) of NDPS Act.

The investigation led to the identification of an accomplice, Amjad Hasmat Ali Syed alias Sunny alias Faiz (48), residing in Santacruz East, Mumbai. The accused, planning to escape to Dubai, was intercepted by the Anti-Narcotics Cell at the airport. Two arrests were made, and Assistant Police Inspector Laxman Dhengle is currently leading further investigations.