Maha: Rs 14-Crore Mephedrone Unit Busted Near Police Station, Cop Suspended for Negligence
Mumbai: In a case of alleged negligence, a massive illegal mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit valued at around Rs 14 crore was busted in Nalasopara East, barely 300 metres from the Pelhar Police Station under the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate. The discovery of the factory, operating so close to a police station, has triggered outrage and raised serious questions over local policing and vigilance.
As per various media accounts, the operation, led by the Mumbai Police’s Zone-6 Narcotics Cell and Tilak Nagar police, resulted in the seizure of over 7 kg of mephedrone along with large quantities of precursor chemicals valued at nearly ₹13.5 crore. Officials also confiscated raw materials worth ₹1 crore. Five individuals were arrested, including the alleged mastermind, Sohail Abdul Saif Ali Khan, a former hawker from Mumbra. According to investigators, Khan had been running the illegal unit for almost ten months, producing up to 50 kg of mephedrone every month. The accused reportedly lived a lavish lifestyle, owning luxury cars including a BMW, allegedly purchased using proceeds from the illegal trade.
In a swift disciplinary response, MBVV Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik suspended Senior Inspector Jitendra Vankoti of the Pelhar Police Station for “inexcusable negligence.” The commissioner’s order stated that despite the factory’s proximity, Vankoti failed to detect or act on the operation under his jurisdiction. The move came after it was revealed that regular patrolling and intelligence gathering were being conducted in the area, yet no suspicious activity was reported.
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According to The Times of India, the incident has placed the MBVV police under intense scrutiny, prompting an internal review of anti-narcotics monitoring and intelligence systems. Senior officers admitted that the extent of the drug operation was alarming and demanded stricter vigilance in industrial zones often used as covers for chemical and narcotics production.
The Free Press Journal reports that the suspension order has emphasized the urgent need for enhanced surveillance around industrial sheds and chemical units in areas bordering Mumbai. Authorities have vowed to strengthen coordination between police units and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to prevent similar lapses in the future.
