Ahmedabad Crime Branch seizes ₹35 lakh worth mephedrone from Vadaj couple

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch in the early hours of Monday arrested a couple from Vadaj after allegedly recovering 357.75 grams of mephedrone (MD) worth ₹35.77 lakh from their residence, following a midnight raid triggered by specific intelligence inputs.

The operation began late on Sunday night after Police Inspector of the Crime Branch received credible information that Kamlesh Kumar Laduram Bishnoi (28) and his wife Rajeshwari (24), residents of Khat Colony near Akhbarnagar Circle, were storing and selling illegal narcotic substances from their first-floor accommodation.

The crime branch team was assembled in office at 9.35 pm on Sunday. Two official vehicles, Bolero jeeps assigned to the Crime Branch, were inspected and cleared to prevent allegations of planting contraband. The raiding teams, accompanied by the panchas, left Gaekwad Haveli shortly before midnight.

Couple intercepted outside their home

Around 12.20 am, officers reached Khat Colony Gate No. 2 and proceeded to House No. 62/359. The couple was reportedly found outside their door were “preparing to leave” when police intercepted them. Both were informed of the search procedure.

MD found in pockets and inside residence

During a personal search:

A white plastic-lined packet containing off-white powder and crystals was allegedly recovered from Kamlesh Bishnoi’s trouser pocket, along with an iPhone and ₹22,800 in cash. A similar packet of suspected mephedrone and a Vivo mobile phone were allegedly found in Rajeshwari’s possession.

A search of the house led to the discovery of:

* A plastic storage box, containing a crystal-like brown substance,

* Six small transparent zipper bags,

* An electric (battery-operated) weighing scale,

* Additional empty plastic pouches, and

* Copies of their Aadhaar cards.

FSL confirms substance as mephedrone

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was called to the spot at around 1.30 am. After preliminary testing, the scientific officer reportedly confirmed the presence of mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant classified as a prohibited substance under the NDPS Act.

A jeweller’s electronic weighing scale was brought in by the Crime Branch to verify the exact quantity of the recovered drugs. As per the official measurement:

* 103.57 g mephedrone was recovered from Kamlesh’s possession.

* 250.08 g was recovered from Rajeshwari.

* 4.10 g was recovered from a zipper bag inside the room.

The total net weight seized was 357.75 grams, valued at approximately ₹35.77 lakh.

Supplier identified; second accused absconding

Kamlesh and Rajeshwari revealed the name of their alleged supplier as Subhash, son of Hiraram Godara, a resident of Jalore district in Rajasthan. They also claimed that another consignment had been arranged through an unidentified person from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, who remains untraceable.

Couple booked under NDPS Act

All seized material including mobile phones, cash, weighing equipment and packaging material — together valued at about ₹36.4 lakh was photographed, inventoried and sealed by officers.

The couple has been arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including provisions pertaining to possession, sale and storage of commercial quantities of synthetic drugs.

Further investigation is underway to trace the suppliers and determine the extent of the alleged distribution network.