Gujarat ATS DySP S L  Chaudhary

A lack of mosquitoes has led law enforcement officials to arrest three men and seize 31.409 kg of liquid mephedrone and its components, worth a total of ₹51.409 crore, in Surat.

The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Varachha-resident Vijay Gajera (38), and Valsad’s Sunil Yadav (28) following a raid at their mephedrone factory in Surat. Their accomplice Haresh Korat (28) was picked up in Junagadh on July 18. 

Yadav is a chemical engineer, while Gajera has a background in electrical engineering. Prior to their life of crime, both worked as chemical traders: Yadav in Vapi, and Gajera in Surat. The duo told the authorities that they had learnt how to make mephedrone, also called MD, meow meow and bubble, by watching videos online. Korat was in charge of finding them customers. 

Raid and capture

Based on information from locals, members of an ATS team disguised themselves as pastoralists and staked out the shed for 15 days.

Then, following orders from ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) S L Chaudhary, Inspectors S H Panara and V N Vaghela led a raid at the unit. They seized 31.409 kg of liquid mephedrone and raw materials worth a total of ₹51.409 crore, and nabbed Gajera – who traded chemicals in Surat – who quickly named his associates. 

While an ATS team arrested Yadav in Vapi and brought him to Kareli, Junagadh police apprehended Korat. 

The trio has so far admitted to selling their product to a drug dealer in Mumbai, who the ATS has identified as one Salim Saiyed. 

A Palsana court has remanded the three accused to ATS custody until July 29. 

Nosy neighbours?

The raid came after local residents alerted the authorities to the presence of the factory, which operated out of a tin shed “only from 11 pm and 4 am” and remained locked throughout the day. 

Neighbours grew suspicious when the mosquito menace was curtailed despite the monsoon, but were told the mysterious “factory” was producing “powder for mixing in grains and chemical tablets”.  

While the accused told the police that they have been operating for two-three months, locals say the shed—which the trio rented for ₹20,000 a month – has been guarded for the past seven to eight months. 

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