Gujarat ATS, Valsad SOG bust illegal MD drug manufacturing unit in Vapi, two arrested

In a major crackdown on narcotics, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Valsad Special Operations Group (SOG) have busted an illegal mephedrone manufacturing unit operating from a scrapyard godown in Sarigam area of Vapi taluka in Valsad district and arrested two persons.

Police said 2.377 kilograms of banned mephedrone (MD) and 0.658 kilograms of suspected narcotic substances were seized during the joint operation carried out on May 25. The seized contraband has been valued at several lakhs of rupees, officials said.

According to Gujarat ATS, Deputy Superintendent of Police S L Chaudhary had received specific intelligence that a man identified as Rajesh Morya, along with his associates Abdul Kalam and Mehul Makwana, was allegedly involved in manufacturing and distributing mephedrone from a godown in Sarigam.

Acting on the tip-off, ATS officials informed senior officers and constituted a special team to verify the intelligence through technical surveillance and human sources.

During the raid at the scrapyard premises in Sarigam, police allegedly found the accused manufacturing the synthetic drug illegally. Officials said the two arrested men had allegedly been operating the clandestine unit for the past five months.

The arrested accused were identified as Abdul Kalam Abdul Rab Khan, 36, originally from Balrampur district in Uttar Pradesh and currently residing in Nani Daman, and Mehul Kumar Nalin Kumar Makwana, 45, a resident of Vapi with roots in Surendranagar district.

Police said both accused were involved in the scrap business, through which they allegedly came into contact and subsequently started the illegal narcotics operation together.

An ATS official said the 0.658 kg substance seized during the raid was recently notified as a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and has also been seized for forensic examination.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and further investigation is underway to ascertain the supply network and identify the intended recipients of the contraband.

Police said efforts are under way to trace the main accused, Rajesh Morya, who is currently absconding.