The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch on Tuesday busted a clandestine mephedrone (MD) manufacturing laboratory operating from a residential flat in the Agripada area of South Mumbai and seized drugs and raw materials worth over Rs 50.74 crore, along with arms and ammunition, and arrested three individuals.
The arrested accused have been identified as Shoeb Mansuri, 33, Sufyan Mansuri, 29, and Mamuni Sarkar, 23. Acting on specific intelligence inputs received by the Kandivli Unit of ANC, a trap was laid on May 25 at a high-rise building —Yasmeen Tower in Agripada.
Police raided flat number 1004 on the 10th floor, where a fully operational MD drug manufacturing setup was found concealed inside a residential premise. Police said the accused have been booked under NDPS Act and Arms Act, adding that the trio has been remanded to custody till June 3.
What was recovered
>> 8.305 kg liquid MD and related materials valued at approx. Rs 29.08 crore
>> 6.188 kg MD (powder form) valued at approx Rs 21.65 crore
>> Total seized drugs and materials: 14.493 kg
>> Equipment and chemicals used in the manufacturing process
>> One country-made pistol
>> 19 live cartridges
Masking technique
Police said that the manufacturing process involved boiling chemicals on a gas stove, followed by drying, which emitted a strong odour. To avoid detection, the accused allegedly used incense sticks, fragrance sprays, and kept air conditioners running 24/7 to suppress the smell. Police said that the accused confessed that someone used to teach them to make drugs through video conference.
History-sheeter
Police stated that Shoeb has multiple criminal cases of robbery, snatching, and assault registered against him. Preliminary investigation suggests they were also scouting for a farmhouse to scale up production, indicating plans for expansion of the illegal operation. The accused woman, Mamuni, is the girlfriend of Shoeb, and she is said to be a Bangladeshi national.
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