Ahmedabad LCB seizes ₹50 lakh worth of mephedrone from Juhapura

In a major crackdown on synthetic drug trafficking, the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Zone-7, Ahmedabad city, arrested a 37-year-old man and seized 504.31 grams of mephedrone (MD drugs) worth over ₹50.43 lakh from his possession near Juhapura in the early hours of January 7, police said.

The accused has been identified as Tosif Fahamed alias Bapu Mohammad Salim Qadri, a resident of Dara Haram Flats in Juhapura. Police said he was apprehended while allegedly transporting the contraband in a Hyundai Creta car.

As per the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Vejalpur Police Station, the LCB team was on night patrol in the Vejalpur area when it received specific and reliable information that Qadri would be arriving near Gebanshah Pir’s Dargah with a consignment of narcotics. Acting on the tip-off, the information was conveyed to senior officers and permission was obtained to conduct a raid.

A raiding team led by Police Inspector R S Parmar, along with LCB staff, government panch witnesses and a government photographer, laid a trap near the location in the early hours of the day. Around 5.05 am, a Hyundai Creta matching the description was spotted and intercepted. The driver identified himself as Qadri.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two transparent zipper bags containing a white powdery substance, later identified as mephedrone. Police also seized two mobile phones, two digital weighing scales, electric knives, cash of ₹500, empty plastic zipper bags, a plastic spoon and a pink carry bag bearing the name 'Alif Gold Palace'. The Hyundai Creta car used for transporting the drugs was also seized.

An officer from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was called to the spot to conduct a preliminary test. He confirmed that the substance was mephedrone. The total net weight of the drug was found to be 504 grams and 310 milligrams. As per official valuation, the seized narcotics are worth ₹10,000 per gram, amounting to ₹50.43 lakh.

Including the vehicle and other items, the total value of the seized muddamal is estimated to be over ₹60 lakh, police said.

During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted that he was involved in the illegal trade of mephedrone but failed to give satisfactory details about the source of the drugs or the intended recipients. Police said further investigation is underway to identify the supply chain and possible links to a larger drug network.

A case has been registered against Qadri under Sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, and further probe has been handed over to a designated investigating officer. The accused is expected to be produced before a court, while police seek custodial remand for further interrogation.

Officials said the seizure underscores the LCB’s intensified drive against synthetic drugs, which have emerged as a growing menace in urban pockets of the city.