Raigad police bust MD-making unit run from a farmhouse

Raigad police busted a synthetic drug lab in Navi Mumbai after villagers reported a chemical smell, arresting five suspects linked to drug production.

NAVI MUMBAI: A tip-off from villagers about a strong chemical odour emanating from a manufacturing unit led to Raigad police busting a synthetic drug manufacturing unit on the same day, allegedly run by a pharmacy diploma holder. Five of them were arrested on Monday, while one accomplice is currently absconding, said police.

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Residents of Tadwadi village in Karjat taluka alerted the police on Monday about a foul odour. On the same day, the Neral police, with support from Kalamb sub-station staff and a forensic squad from the district headquarters in Alibag, raided a farmhouse in the village that was operating a drug manufacturing unit. According to the police, the raid yielded chemicals, machinery, and equipment used for mephedrone production, along with mobile phones. Seized items, including narcotics-related substances worth ₹15.16 lakh and phones worth ₹1.3 lakh, were taken into custody.

Officials arrested five men, who they believe are the masterminds behind the manufacturing process. They were identified as Javed Ahmed Shaikh, 38, from Dharavi; Sachin Ram Milan Jaiswar, 31, a pharmacy diploma holder from Sion; Mohammad Jafar Mohammad Ali, 39, from Mahim; Amit Ashok Kumar Kori, 23, from Sion; and Bharat Siddheshwar Jadhav, 36, from Shahapur in Thane district.

One of their accomplices, identified as Laxman Devram Fasal, a resident of Tadwadi, is on the run, said an officer, and the police have launched a manhunt to locate him.

Investigations revealed that Jaiswar handled the manufacturing, and Shaikh was responsible for sales. A preliminary probe showed that the accused procured raw materials from Thane.

The five accused were produced before the Karjat court and remanded to police custody for a week.

This operation was part of a month-long anti-drug drive recently launched by Sanjay Darade, special inspector general.