Representational Image (Thinkstock)
Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have detained four people, including the scion of transport company Konduskar Travels, and have recovered more than 400 kg of mephedrone, which goes by the street name 'MD', or 'meow meow'.
The Rs 40 crore seizure of the deadly party drug makes it one of the biggest confiscations in the state after it was brought under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
After receiving a tip-off, DRI officials stopped a Maruti Swift on Monday morning near Urse toll naka on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and found around 50 kg of the drug. Based on the information received, officials then raided a factory in Sangli district and recovered another 355 kg of mephedrone
Big Catch
"We have detained four people, including Ravindra Konduskar, who also owns Onkar Industries, from MIDC in Islampur," said a DRI official. Ravindra's brother, Abhijit Konduskar, was arrested in June 2011 with 200 kg of ketamine, a date rape drug.
Officials said this was one of the biggest seizures of the party drug after it was brought under the NDPS Act. Mephedrone is popular among youngsters in Mumbai, Goa, and Ahmedabad, as it is cheaper than cocaine. It is known to decrease weight, lower inhibition levels and allow the person to function without sleep for days.
"After the ban, peddlers are now busy shifting their stock to safe hideouts, and the DRI, Narcotics Control Bureau and Mumbai police's Anti-Narcotics Cell are trying to seize the contraband during transit," said the official.
City Cop Held with 100 kg of MDA police constable of Mumbai Police was among the arrested for the possession of the drug. He was arrested in Satara with 100 kg of mephedrone. Police officials said that since he is a cop, no one suspected that he was also working as a drug peddler.
"We are investigating the case," said Abhinav Deshmukh, superintendent of Satara police, refusing to divulge any more information. Cops said that after the sudden ban of MD, or meow meow, the constable was unable to sell the drugs and was trying to transfer it to a safe hideout, when he was arrested.