Mumbai Police disguise as Zomato agents to arrest drug peddlers on New Year's Eve

On the eve of New Year, the police force is intensifying its crackdown on drug peddlers, resulting in arrests across Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar Districts. A total of 20 individuals have been arrested, with many more detained for the possession of drugs, including mephedrone (MD), cocaine, LSD, and ecstasy (MDMA) pills. The combined value of the seized drugs from all three districts amounts to a staggering Rs 1.67 crore. To arrest drug peddlers, the police posed as a Zomato delivery man.

Palghar
In Nalasopara, Vasai, two individuals, identified as Nigerian citizens Devive Chukvumeka and Chikvu Ferdinand Okito Navamari, were arrested. The anti-drug campaign involved raids in various locations, including a building on Pragati Nagar Extension Road, covering areas like Vasai, Achole, Tulij, Moregaon, Pragati Nagar, and 90 Feet Road. The operation led to the apprehension of the two Nigerian individuals associated with the drug trade, resulting in the seizure of a total of Rs 1.5 crore worth of drugs.

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Thane Crime Branch Unit 5 and Unit 2 arrested 15 individuals for possessing drugs

"Two Nigerians were seen talking on a roadside in Nalasopara with backpacks on their backs. We suspected suspicious activities and apprehended them. Upon searching, we found a total of 554.4 grams of mephedrone worth R10.88 lakh and 120.4 grams of Cocaine worth R36.12 lakh. A case was registered against both under various sections of the NDPS act," said an officer from the Anti Narcotics Cell of Palghar Police.

Thane
In a raid on a rave party, the Thane Crime Branch Unit 5 and Unit 2 arrested 15 out of 100 individuals for possession of narcotic substances, drugs, and illegal liquor, including Charas, LSD, Ecstasy (MDMA) pills, and Ganja. The seized drugs were worth lakhs.

"We received a tip-off about a party organized by two individuals for youngsters at Vadavli Creek, where drugs would be sold. In a combined operation, we raided the place, detaining 100 individuals, arresting 15 for possession of various drugs. We seized drugs worth R8.03 lakh, including 70 grams of charas, 0.41 grams of LSD, 2.10 grams of Ecstasy (MDMA) pills, and 200 grams of Ganja," said an officer from the Thane crime branch. "A case was registered against all the accused under various sections of the NDPS Act."

Chikvu Ferdinand Okito Navamari; Devive Chukvumeka; Iqbal Anwar Hussain; and Akshay Shashikant Jagtap

In two subsequent operations by the Mumbai crime branch, three individuals were arrested for drug peddling. Crime branch unit 10 apprehended Faisal Akbar Makhanoja, 34, with an officer posing as a Zomato delivery man in Jogeshwari, while crime branch unit 11 arrested Akshay Shashikant Jagtap, 30, and Iqbal Anwar Hussain, 42, in Goregaon.

"We were on a search operation for an absconding accused in a narcotics peddling case. At about 1 am, we received a tip-off about a drug peddler in Jogeshwari. I posed as a Zomato delivery man for visual confirmation. We set up a team and trapped the peddler, finding him in possession of 100 grams of commercial-grade mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 10 lakh. A case was registered at Amboli police station, and the accused was granted police custody for further investigation," said PI Deepak Sawant of Crime Branch Unit 10.

Meanwhile, crime branch unit 11, during a patrol in Goregaon West, found two individuals engaged in drug peddling. The individuals were found in possession of a total of 63 grams of mephedrone (MD). An FIR was registered at Dindoshi police station, and the individuals were taken into custody for further enquiry.

Rs 1.67 cr
Value of drugs seized