(From left) Ramshiromoni Pandey, Vidyaprasad Tiwari and Santoshkumar Singh were all arrested for smuggling Ketamine into the city.
Everyone wants to ring in the New Year on a 'high', but it's essential to stay within the limits of the law. In a joint operation, Unit X of Mumbai crime branch and the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) have nabbed three people and confiscated around 13 kilograms of Ketamine that was transported to the city for New Year's Eve. Cops have also arrested a driver from the postal department, who they believe aided the movement of the dope in a government vehicle.
Unit X assistant police Inspector Rauffique Shaikh along with ANC officer Satish Raorane intercepted three people at Sakinaka, Andheri. The offenders, who were identified as Ramshiromoni Pandey, Santoshkumar Singh, and Vidyaprasad Tiwari, are all residents of Nallasopara. "Pandey works as driver with the Worli post office, and we have seized around 7 kg of Ketamine from him," said Kishore Jadhav, deputy commissioner of police, ANC.
"Four kilograms of the drug were found with Singh and two on Tiwari," he added. Police have learnt that Pandey was also in touch with the accused who were arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for operating a Ketamine factory in Jalgaon a fortnight ago. DRI had seized around 1,175 kg of the drug, worth Rs 120 crore. "We have arrested Pandey, who we suspect is the kingpin in the racket, and he was going to sell the Ketamine to a party for New Year's Eve. We are trying to establish from where he procured the merchandise. He is arguing that a friend kept the bag with him, but we doubt it," said API Shaikh.
Pandey claimed that the driver of the main accused arrested by the DRI during the Jalgaon bust was his friend, and he used to steal Ketamine and then give it to him. Cops also said that Pandey, being a postal worker, likely used government vehicles to ferry the drug within the city limits.
What is Ketamine?Ketamine is an anaesthetic that is primarily used during surgical procedures. It is a liquid that can be injected or snorted, and is often misused on unsuspecting victims to lower their guard. It is often called the Date rape drug, as mixed with a drink Ketamine can be lethal in knocking out a person. Before 2010, smugglers of Ketamine were arrested under the Customs Act. However, the drug was later included under the stringent NDPS Act.
Prime time for drug runnersSeveral anti-narcotics agencies such as Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police have been keeping a tight vigil on drug suppliers in the neighbourhood. Cops said that huge quantity of dope pours into the city around New Year's Eve, which is supplied to Mumbai's partygoers at pubs, discotheques and bars.
1,175 kgAmount of Ketamine recovered by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at a factory in Jalgaon a fortnight ago