A 53-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested after police seized more than 2 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 1.02 crore from his possession in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Wednesday.
Police have also registered a case against the landlord of the rented flat where the accused was staying, alleging that the property was rented out without carrying out the mandatory police verification required for foreign nationals.
Anti-terrorism cell acts on tip-off
According to police, the Anti-Terrorism Cell received specific information that foreign nationals were allegedly involved in the sale of narcotic substances from a flat in the Nalasopara area of Palghar district.
Based on the intelligence input, a team conducted a raid on Monday and searched both the suspect and the rented premises.
Tulinj Police Station Senior Inspector Amar Marathe identified the accused as Justine Usifo alias Michael Grace, a Nigerian national.
Drugs worth over Rs 1 crore seized
During the search operation, police recovered 2.054 kg of mephedrone, a synthetic narcotic, with an estimated market value of Rs 1,02,75,000.
Officials said the seized contraband was taken into custody and sent for further legal and forensic procedures. The source of the narcotics, intended distribution network and possible links to other individuals are now under investigation.
Police are also examining whether the accused was operating alone or was part of a larger drug trafficking network.
Landlord booked over verification lapse
Investigators found that the accused had been staying in the rented accommodation without the property owner completing the mandatory verification process for a foreign national.
Based on the findings, police registered a case against the landlord for allegedly facilitating the offence by failing to comply with verification requirements before renting out the premises.
Officials said landlords are legally required to complete police verification before renting accommodation to foreign nationals, and failure to do so can invite legal action.
Multiple laws invoked in the case
Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Immigration and Foreigners Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The investigation is continuing to determine the origin of the seized drugs, identify any associates of the accused and trace possible supply routes.
Police have also appealed to property owners to strictly follow police verification procedures before renting homes to foreign nationals, stating that compliance is essential for maintaining public safety and preventing unlawful activities.
(With inputs from PTI)
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