Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Jun 27: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has recovered an additional 329.55 grams of mephedrone during the police remand of an accused arrested in a courier-based drug trafficking case, taking the total seizure in the investigation to 701.10 grams of the banned synthetic narcotic valued at approximately Rs 70.11 lakh.
The fresh recovery was made following the interrogation of 32-year-old Asuram alias Ashokkumar Bhadu (Bishnoi), a resident of Rajasthan's Balotra district, who was earlier arrested under Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police had initially seized 371.55 grams of mephedrone, estimated to be worth Rs 37.15 lakh, from the accused. The quantity falls under the commercial category as defined by the NDPS Act.
During questioning, Bhadu disclosed that he had been staying in a rented accommodation at Yamuna Park Society in Adinath Nagar near the S.P. Ring Road in Ahmedabad's Odhav locality.
Acting on the information, Crime Branch officials searched the premises in the presence of independent panch witnesses and recovered another 329.55 grams of mephedrone valued at nearly Rs 32.95 lakh.
Investigators also seized Rs 35,000 in cash along with several items allegedly used in the drug distribution network. These included two digital weighing machines, 239 zip-lock pouches, a notebook, aluminium foil, envelopes, silver-coloured cardboard used for packaging, a bank passbook, an ATM card, copies of identity documents and other packing materials.
With the latest seizure, the total quantity of mephedrone recovered in the case has risen to 701.10 grams, carrying an estimated market value of Rs 70.11 lakh. Including the cash and other seized materials, the total value of property confiscated during the investigation now stands at around Rs 70.46 lakh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ajit Rajian said the accused had allegedly procured the drugs from Rajasthan and used courier services operating in Ahmedabad's Bapunagar area to transport small consignments to various destinations.
"The accused were sending narcotics not only to locations within Gujarat but also to cities such as Bengaluru through courier parcels. They believed this method would help them evade detection, as it is difficult to inspect every package," Rajian said.
Police said the accused coordinated with customers and associates through phone calls and messaging applications, using courier networks as the primary mode of distribution.
The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation to trace the origin of the narcotics, identify other members of the trafficking network and uncover the intended supply chain operating across multiple states.