The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully dismantled a sophisticated mobile mephedrone manufacturing unit operating in Maharashtra's Satara district, resulting in the seizure of narcotics valued at a staggering Rs 55 crore and the arrest of five individuals, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Operation Sahyadri Checkmate Uncovers Disguised Drug Lab
Acting on precise intelligence inputs, DRI officers launched 'Operation Sahyadri Checkmate' on Friday, targeting a remote village within Karad tehsil. The country's premier anti-smuggling agency discovered a fully operational mephedrone laboratory cleverly concealed behind the facade of a poultry farm. Officials revealed that the illicit unit was being frequently relocated as a deliberate strategy to evade law enforcement detection.
Massive Seizure of Synthetic Stimulant
The raid yielded a substantial haul of the synthetic stimulant, commonly known as a party drug. The seizure included:
- 11.848 kilograms of mephedrone in liquid form
- 9.326 kilograms in semi-liquid form
- 738 grams in crystalline form
Additionally, authorities confiscated 71.5 kilograms of raw material with the potential to produce another 15 kilograms of the dangerous substance. The total estimated value of the confiscated drugs stands at Rs 55 crore.
Immediate Arrests and Subsequent Apprehensions
During the initial raid, DRI teams arrested three key individuals at the scene:
- The manufacturer or "cook" responsible for producing the drug
- The "financer-consigner" backing the operation
- The owner of the poultry farm used as cover
Investigators disclosed that the first batch of contraband had been hidden at the farm owner's residence. In a follow-up operation, DRI personnel apprehended two more accused near an old octroi toll naka located in a densely forested area. They were intercepted while en route to collect the final product.
Criminal Histories of the Accused
Officials noted that four of the five arrested individuals have prior criminal records. They have either faced cases under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act or have been prosecuted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Second Major Drug Bust in Satara District
This operation marks the second significant drug manufacturing unit busted in Satara district within the past two months. Last month, the Mumbai Crime Branch conducted a raid in Jawali, exposing another clandestine drug production facility. The consecutive crackdowns highlight intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the proliferation of synthetic drugs in the region.
Mephedrone, a potent synthetic stimulant, poses severe health risks to users, including cardiovascular complications, psychological dependence, and potential fatal overdoses. The DRI's successful operation underscores the ongoing battle against organized drug trafficking networks operating in rural and remote areas of Maharashtra.
