Valsad/Ahmedabad, May 26 (IANS) The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Valsad Special Operations Group (SOG) have seized 2.377 kg of mephedrone and arrested two men after raiding a scrap godown in Sarigam village of Vapi taluka in Valsad district, officials said on Tuesday.
The raid was carried out after ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) S.L. Chaudhary received intelligence that Rajesh Maurya and his associates, Abdul Kalam and Mehulkumar Makwana, were allegedly manufacturing and selling the banned synthetic narcotic substance from the premises.
According to ATS officials, the information was conveyed to senior officers on May 25 as part of ongoing action under the zero-tolerance policy against drugs.
A special team was formed to verify the intelligence through technical surveillance and human sources.
Officials said the raid was conducted at a scrap warehouse in Sarigam after investigators confirmed the intelligence inputs.
During the search, police recovered 2.377 kg of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, along with 0.658 kg of a suspected narcotic substance that was recently declared a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act with effect from March 11 this year.
ATS SP K.K. Patel said the estimated market value of the seized material was between Rs 6 crore and Rs 7 crore.
“The Gujarat ATS, in line with the zero-tolerance policy against drugs of the Union government and the state government, continuously undertakes such operations,” Patel added.
He said investigators say the accused had been preparing the operation over the past five to six months before beginning production activities.
“Around 500 to 600 grams of additional mephedrone could potentially have been produced from the raw material recovered during the raid,” he added.
Police arrested Abdul Kalam (36), a businessman originally from Balrampur district in Uttar Pradesh, who currently lives in Nani Daman; and Mehulkumar Makwana, 45, originally from Wadhwan in Surendranagar district and presently residing in Vapi.
ATS officials said both men were allegedly involved in procuring raw materials and processing the narcotic substance.
ATS SP Patel said Rajesh Maurya and Abdul Kalam were believed to be the principal accused who collectively sourced raw materials from different locations and processed them.
“Investigators would question Maurya further regarding his role in the operation,” he added.
When asked whether the narcotics had already been supplied to buyers, ATS SP Patel said, “That detail will emerge during interrogation and investigation.”
Officials said the accused were involved in the scrap business and further questioning would determine how they came into contact with one another, where they learned the manufacturing process, the source of the chemicals, and who the intended buyers were.
“Details regarding the ownership of the godown and the background of the accused, including any criminal history or technical knowledge related to chemicals, were still being verified,” Patel noted.
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act and further investigation is underway.
–IANS
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