13 arrested in Gujarat and Rajasthan for drug possession valued at Rs 230 crore
PTC News Desk: Thirteen individuals have been apprehended across Gujarat and Rajasthan in a joint operation conducted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau. The arrests were made in connection with the alleged possession of mephedrone valued at Rs 230 crore.
The operation unfolded following a tip-off received by the ATS, prompting raids on Friday. Authorities suspected that Manoharlal Enani from Ahmedabad and Kuldeepsinh Rajpurohit from Rajasthan were involved in establishing mephedrone manufacturing units.
According to officials, the raids yielded significant seizures, including 22.028 kilograms of mephedrone and 124 kilograms of liquid mephedrone, collectively valued at Rs 230 crore. Rajpurohit was apprehended in Gandhinagar, while Enani was detained in Sirohi, Rajasthan.
The investigative efforts extended to units located in Sirohi and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, as well as in Piplaj village in Gandhinagar and the Bhaktinagar industrial area in Gujarat.
Further scrutiny revealed that Enani had previously served a seven-year sentence after being apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in 2015 for his involvement in mephedrone production at an industrial unit in Rajasthan.
The investigation suggests a connection between all the accused, who allegedly procured raw materials from a company in the Vapi industrial area of Valsad district.
Ongoing investigations aim to ascertain the duration of drug production, previous sales, and the extent of involvement of other parties in the operation.
Additionally, authorities recovered substantial quantities of mephedrone, ephedrine, and acetone from labs located in Bhinmal and Osian in Rajasthan, and Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Further raids in Amreli district, Gujarat, are expected to yield additional recoveries.
Mephedrone, also known by various street names including ‘meow meow’, is a synthetic stimulant, and its illicit production and distribution pose significant concerns for law enforcement agencies.