Five interstate drug traffickers arrested in Indore, MD worth Rs 1 crore seized

Indore: Five interstate drug traffickers were arrested after a dramatic chase on Super Corridor late Monday night.Crime branch officials seized 1 kg mephedrone (MD) worth nearly Rs 1 crore in the international market, an illegal firearm and vehicles used by the traffickers.Additional commissioner of police RK Singh said that they had received a tip-off about a major consignment of synthetic drugs being brought into the city and the traffickers were travelling in a black SUV and on two motorcycles.The police laid a trap near Veer Tejaji temple on Tigaria Badshah Kakad road on Super Corridor. As soon as the accused spotted the police, they attempted to flee. The police teams chased the SUV, which was being driven at high speed, along with the bikes. The SUV driver, however, lost control and rammed the vehicle into a divider, damaging its front portion. The sudden incident also distracted the bikers, giving police teams enough time to overpower all of them.While searching the SUV dashboard, officers found 1 kg of MD, a country-made pistol and a live cartridge. The SUV and two motorcycles were also seized. The total value of the seized material is estimated at around Rs 1.21 crore.The arrested persons were identified as Naveen Solanki, 25, a resident of Jhalawar in Rajasthan, who police described as the prime accused; Govind Verma, 29, currently residing in Silicon City in Indore and originally from Dewas; Shankar Singh, 33, from Jhalawar; Vikram Singh, 31, from Ujjain; and Narendra Singh, 26, also from Ujjain.Investigators said Solanki and Verma worked in salons and also operated bike taxi services, while others were involved in farming activities. Police suspect the group had been supplying narcotics for some time to earn illegal profits.Crime branch officials have registered a case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Arms Act.