Mephedrone worth ₹5 lakh seized in Banaskantha, two Rajasthan men held

The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the CID Crime and Railways, Gujarat, has seized 232 grams of Mephedrone (MD) valued at over ₹5 lakh and arrested two persons in Banaskantha district, officials said on Monday.

The operation was carried out on March 16 on the Palanpur–Jagana Highway in Palanpur taluka, based on specific intelligence inputs about narcotics movement in the area.

According to an official, the operation was conducted, based on a specific information received by one of the ANTF officials.

The accused were intercepted during a blockade while allegedly transporting the contraband on a motorcycle bearing Rajasthan registration.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Irfan Khan alias Ashu Khan Mothala (20), a resident of Daipur in Rajasthan’s Jalore district, and Sukhdevbhai alias Sukho Vagataram Chaudhary (27), also from Jalore district.

Police said that 232 grams of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, was recovered from their possession. In addition, the team seized a motorcycle worth ₹50,000, three mobile phones valued at ₹10,000, and ₹780 in cash. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at ₹7.56 lakh.

An FIR was registered under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Officials said preliminary investigation suggests that the accused were transporting the drugs for distribution, and further probe is under way to trace the source and intended recipients of the contraband.

The investigation has been handed over to the police inspector of the CID Border Zone, Palanpur unit.