Mumbai: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have arrested four persons for allegedly smuggling 16 kilograms of Mephedrone (MD). Those arrested have been identified as Manish Bardawal, Ravindar Bardhawar, Mahesh Kharwa and Sultan Ahmed Abdul Latif Shaikh.
According to the DRI sources, information was received by DRI, Mumbai that a huge quantity of Mephedrone (Meow-Meow, as known in Illicit market) is being carried by two persons named Ravi and Manish who are travelling in a bus from Hyderabad to Mumbai and the said bus is scheduled to reach Vashi (Navi Mumbai) on Tuesday.
The information further indicated that the said persons would be delivering the contraband to one Mahesh Kharwa who has specifically come to Mumbai, from Vadodara for taking the delivery of the contraband and will be staying in Mumbai at a hotel near Mandavi. He in turn, would deliver the said goods to a person by name Sultan alias Maharaj resident of Noor Baug, Mumbai.
Acting on the said information, the officers intercepted Ravindar and Manish near Vashi flyover Bus stop, Vashi. They confirmed carrying 16 kg MD and that they were travelling together to supply Mephedrone from Hyderabad to Mumbai. The said narcotics substance was then seized by DRI officers.
The DRI officials then nabbed Kharwa who told them that he was supposed to collect the delivery of 16 kgs of Mephedrone from Manish and Ravindar and further deliver it to one of his accomplice Sultan Ahmed Abdul Latif Shaikh. He also told officials that he was getting handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of this.
Sultan Ahmed Abdul Latif Shaikh was then apprehended by DRI officers and he told them that he was supposed to collect the delivery of MD from Mahesh Kharva and further deliver it to one of hie accomplice Kallu Bhai.
“It is clearly evident that an ingenious modus operandi is being adopted to smuggle contraband, narcotic and psychotropic substances by way of concealment in the backpack carried by the individual so that the same escapes the attention of the authorities and attempt to smuggle such drugs in thereby successfully carried out. This appears to be a case of illegal trafficking of drugs with an attempt to smuggle contraband which is prohibited,” said a DRI source.
