Mumbai: Narcotics Cell On Clean Up Drive, Sweep Drug Peddlers Behind The Bars

In a recent series of events, many drug bust cases have come to limelight. Recently, the Anti-Narcotics Unit of Navi Mumbai Police arrested two persons in two different incidents. They seized INR 10.5 lakh worth of methaqualone (MD drug). These two peddlers were caught under a special drive to make ‘Narcotics Free Navi Mumbai’.

On Sunday, July 9, Deepak Subhash Suryavanshi was arrested from Vashi Plaza with 52.90 grams of methaqualone, worth INR 5.29 lakh.

The Anti-Narcotics Unit got a tip about drug trafficking in the Kharghar area. Nishar Mohammad Shaikh was caught with 53.56 grams of methaqualone, worth Rs 5.35 lakh.

Both arrests were made as per the NDPS Act at respective police stations.

On July 10, The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police conducted a drug bust operation and arrested seven, including a SoBo woman and two Nigerians. The 58-year-old woman from Kemps Corner kept frequently traveling from Mumbai to Pune in luxury buses and private taxis late at night.

Police reports stated that Succerino Fernandes, a former teacher, along with her son Quinton, was running this gang of seven. After interrogating the duo, officials learned about their other members and arrested Mahim resident Anju Vijay Pal and Nigerian nationals Vincent Ogbonna Ezima and Hyancinth Uzolgwe who lived with her.

Another team of ANC traveled to Pune and arrested Gautam Waghela and Aniket Pardesi, to whom the drugs were supplied. A team carried out search operations at Sukhorino's Kemps Corner residence, and other premises at Marve Road in Malad, Virar, and Pune. They recovered 58gm of mephedrone and 15gm of cocaine worth over INR 16 lakh.

It is pertinent to note that the Mumbai police officials are frequently conducting an ‘All Out Operation’ at several intervals. Under this operation, the officials raid several drug hotspot areas and carry out a search operation.

Recently, they conducted a raid and under this initiative, they apprehended more than 349 people for various offences. They raided 215 places, across the city, during which a total of 955 accused with criminal history were examined.

Out of the 955 people that were detained during the operation, it turned out that 236 have active cases against them. Out of the 394 accused who had been examined for crimes under the Narcotics, narcotics, and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 27 had narcotics on them, either for selling or buying. A total of 19 cases were filed, and 27 people were arrested. 83 persons were detained for using illegal narcotics.

The All Out Operation was conducted under the vigilance of Mumbai Police Commissioner, Vivek Phansalkar and Special Mumbai Police Commissioner, Deven Bharti. Traffic police, too participated in the operation, and nabbed several from different localities of Mumbai.

The officials in and around the city are doing their best in busting out all the drug-related cases. But the question here is, just arresting these criminals will clean up the crime? Many youths are turning out to be drug addicts these days. Some action needs to be taken to reduce the number of drug addicts to nil.