Thane ephedrine haul: Key supplier arrested

The arrested accused, identified as Sushil Kumar Assikanan, 34, a Panvel resident, was on the run right from April13, when the raid was conducted at Solapur-based Avon Pharma Life Science Private Ltd

In the Rs 2,000 crore-ephedrine drug haul case, the Thane police on Monday have arrested another person, the key supplier from Bangalore.

Sushil Kumar Assikanan has supplied 180 kgs ephedrine in the past (File photo)

The arrested accused, identified as Sushil Kumar Assikanan, 34, a Panvel resident, was on the run right from April13, when the raid was conducted at Solapur-based Avon Pharma Life Science Private Ltd. He was caught in Bangalore, where he had come to meet his friend to get financial help, but was nabbed by the police. He was detained on Sunday and a day later arrested. He had filed an anticipatory bail plea but was rejected last month.

During the investigation, the cops found that he was about to fly to Dubai and few of his Bangalore friends were helping him monetarily. Amol Walzade, police sub inspector from Thane Anti- Narcotics cell, said, “After his bail got rejected, we alerted our informers, who then told us about his exact location. We kept a close watch on his for three days and finally took him into custody on Sunday. We then brought him to Thane and arrested him after proper investigation.”

Assikanan had supplied 180 kgs ephedrine here in the past. “He is the main connection in the supply chain that provides drugs to locals, especially to Nigerians in Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. He had also supplied the drugs to other parts of the country,” says Bharat Shelkhe, additional commissioner of crime, Thane.

Shelkhe further added, “As Assikanan owns the shipping agency, he used to supply the drugs, he also did custom clearance work. He was introduced in this business by Manoj Jain, director of Avon Pharma. Assikanan is in to this business from the past three years and that the profit sharing used to depend upon the quantity of the goods supplied.”

Assikanan is the 11th accused in the drug case and has been remanded in police custody till August 31. Walzade said, “Other than his Bangalore friends, he was also supported by his local friends in Panvel, who are under investigation.”