Customs dept staff to guard defunct Mumbai office which has become den for drug addicts

Mumbai residents had written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar to look into the issue

The central board for excise and customs has deployed staff to guard their defunct office in Mahim, which has become a den for drug addicts in Mumbai.

Mahim residents had approached chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar, requesting them to crack down on drug addicts in the area. (HT)

Last week, the anti-narcotics cell of the Mumbai crime branch raided the spot, arresting 11 men who frequented the spot to consume drugs. The Mahim police later caught 15 men from the spot.

Milind Idekar, senior inspector, of Mahim police station, said, “It is a continuous drive.”

Mahim residents had approached chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar, requesting them to crack down on drug addicts in the area.

Irfan Machiwala, one of the local residents, said, “On April 7, we wrote to the Central Board for Excise and Customs, informing them about the menace. On April 28, they replied to us saying they will take appropriate action.”

In its email the department said, “Action has been initiated to sanitise the precincts and put the said structure to regular use. Staff has been deployed to guard the structure.”