Mephedrone worth Rs 2,000 crore seized in Pune, New Delhi; five persons held
Pune (PTI): Police have seized 1100kg of synthetic stimulant drug mephedrone, estimated to be worth more than Rs 2,000 crore, following raids in Pune district and New Delhi and arrested three persons in this connection and detained two others, said officials on Tuesday.
The three persons arrested in connection with the biggest-ever drug seizure by the Pune police were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), they said, adding the two other men are being questioned.
Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said 700kg of mephedrone (also known as MD) was seized from different locations in Pune district, including the Kurkumbh MIDC area on the city's outskirts, after the arrest of the trio on Sunday and their subsequent interrogation.
Based on inputs provided by the accused, the Pune police on Tuesday evening seized another 400kg of mephedrone from two godown-like structures in South Delhi, he said.
Kumar said with this, the total seizure of the drug stood at a whopping 1100kg.
A police officer from the Pune crime branch said though the process of seizure was still going on, the value of the contraband was estimated to be more than Rs 2,000 crore.
He said preliminary investigations have revealed mephedrone was transported from the Kurkumbh MIDC-based units and stored at the godowns in New Delhi.
"We have already arrested three people who worked as couriers. Two more people have been apprehended and their interrogation was on," said the crime branch officer.
The officer said this was the biggest-ever drug recovery in Maharashtra by the Pune police and one of the largest seizures in the country.
"Investigations are going on a war footing. Upward and downward linkages are being probed and our teams are working in close coordination with other agencies," Police Commissioner Kumar said earlier in the day.
Asked about antecedents of the arrested accused, the IPS officer said they were primarily acting as "courier boys" and had some offences registered against them.
Asked if drug racketeer Lalit Patil was anyway related to the narcotics haul, he said as of now no link has come to light.
Last year, Patil emerged as the kingpin of a drug racket that was busted by the police in Mumbai in a two-month-long operation, which included seizure of mephedrone worth about Rs 300 crore and a raid at a drug manufacturing unit in Nashik. Patil had escaped from a government hospital in Pune, but was later arrested.
Mephedrone, also known as 'meow meow', is a synthetic stimulant and psychotropic substance banned under the NDPS Act.
STORY | Mephedrone worth Rs 1,100 crore seized in Pune; three persons arrested
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VIDEO | "In the said case, as of now, more than 600 kg of Mephedrone (MD) valued at Rs 1100 crore has been seized. Our crime branch team has been prepositioned at… pic.twitter.com/LOTb8yLhiC
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Rahul Gandhi to attend friendly football match between Messi, Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will attend the GOAT India Tour event featuring football legend Lionel Messi at the RGI Cricket Stadium here on Saturday evening, Telangana Congress sources said.
A friendly match will be played between the two teams -- Singareni RR9 and Aparna-Messi All Stars. These two teams will be playing a 15-20 minute friendly match and five minutes before the game, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, a football enthusiast and Messi will join and will dribble the ball together.
Rahul Gandhi will land here on a special flight at 4.30 PM and will proceed to Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel where Messi will be staying.
After watching the game, Gandhi will leave for the national capital by 10.30 PM.
Elaborate security arrangements are being made for the event at the RGI Cricket stadium.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu said security would be provided with 3,000 personnel.
