In a meticulously planned intelligence-driven operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully dismantled a sophisticated and clandestine mephedrone manufacturing laboratory hidden within the remote hinterlands of the Sahyadri ranges in Satara district. Codenamed Operation Sahyadri Checkmate, this significant crackdown led to the arrest of five individuals, including the key operative known as the 'cook', and the seizure of finished narcotics and raw materials with an estimated illicit market value exceeding Rs 55 crores.
Covert Operation Uncovers Mobile Drug Lab
According to official sources from the DRI and a press statement released by the Ministry of Finance, the operation was launched based on developed intelligence. The illicit laboratory was strategically designed as a mobile unit to frequently shift locations and evade detection by law enforcement agencies. Surveillance efforts by the investigation team eventually pinpointed a camouflaged manufacturing facility operating under the deceptive guise of a poultry farm in the Karad tehsil of Satara.
A coordinated raid executed by DRI officers on January 24 exposed this makeshift, yet fully operational, clandestine lab. It was equipped with specialized apparatus capable of producing Mephedrone, a substance listed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Massive Haul of Narcotics and Raw Materials
The seizure from the bust was substantial and included:
- 21.912 kilograms of mephedrone in various forms:
- 11.848 kg in liquid form
- 9.326 kg in semi-liquid form
- 738 grams in crystalline form
- An additional 71.5 kilograms of raw material, which authorities estimate could have produced approximately 15 kg of the finished NDPS substance.
The Ministry of Finance release confirmed the total illicit market value of the seized contraband to be around Rs 55 crore, highlighting the scale of this illegal operation.
Arrests and Follow-Up Actions
During the initial phase of the operation, DRI apprehended three key individuals:
- The 'cook' directly involved in the manufacturing process of mephedrone.
- The financer-consigner of the operation.
- The owner of the poultry farm used as a front.
Investigations revealed that the first batch of the finished contraband had been concealed at the residence of the poultry farm owner for safekeeping. In a swift follow-up action, DRI officers mounted late-night surveillance near an old octroi toll naka located inside a dense forested area. This led to the apprehension of two more individuals who were en route to collect the final product, bringing the total arrests to five.
Officials disclosed a concerning detail: four out of the five arrested individuals are repeat offenders. They have previously faced arrests under the NDPS Act or have been prosecuted under stringent legislations such as the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999.
National Security and Public Health Implications
The Ministry of Finance statement emphasized that this successful operation underscores the critical role of the DRI in safeguarding national security. By disrupting organized drug trafficking networks, the agency addresses a serious threat to public health, law and order, and economic stability. The statement noted, "The successful operation underscores the critical role of DRI in safeguarding national security by disrupting organized drug trafficking networks that pose a serious threat to public health, law and order, and economic stability."
Understanding Mephedrone: A Growing Menace
Mephedrone, known by various street names such as Meow Meow, White Magic, M-Cat, and Drone, is a synthetically manufactured stimulant belonging to the amphetamine and cathinone category. Interestingly, until the early 2010s, this drug was not included in the list of contrabands under the NDPS Act. However, multiple seizures of large quantities and rising instances of its consumption as a narcotic in major cities prompted authorities to officially include it in the prohibited list in 2015.
Over the last few years, India has witnessed a rapid growth in the consumption of mephedrone, making such busts increasingly crucial. This operation in Satara follows one of the largest-ever mephedrone hauls in the country, which occurred in February 2024. In that case, the Pune City Police's Crime Branch seized around 1,800 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 3,700 crore from raids conducted at a chemical factory in Daund taluka, godowns in Pune's Vishrantwadi, shops in New Delhi's South Extension, and other locations in Sangli district. That probe had unveiled a sophisticated production line for the synthetic stimulant, operating from a chemical factory disguised as a pharmaceutical unit in Kurkumbh, Daund. The case was subsequently transferred to the Narcotics Control Bureau for further investigation.
The latest bust in Satara through Operation Sahyadri Checkmate marks another significant victory in the ongoing battle against the illicit drug trade, demonstrating the vigilance and coordinated efforts of India's revenue intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
