Bizman held for drug trafficking

MUMBAI: The 29-year-old scion of the Konduskar family and three others were arrested early on Thursday for allegedly being involved in an international drug-trafficking racket.
A directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) official said Abhijeet Konduskar, managing director of Kamud Drugs in Sangli, was into illicit manufacture, diversion and export of Ketamine, a narcotic, and Mephedrone.During raids at the Kumud Drugs factory, the Konduskar' residence and other premises on Thursday, the DRI seized 1,021 kg illegally manufactured Ketamine, valued at Rs 102 crore in the international market, and Rs 1 crore in cash. The company's general manager Nilesh Mehta, employee Sandeep Ahire and the Indian agent of UK-based buyer, Sean Jayantilal Kothari, have also been arrested. All have been booked under the provisions of the NDPS Act.
While the government controls the manufacture of Ketamine, which is a party drug, Mephedrone is not banned in India but forbidden in other countries.
DRI seized Rs 1 crore and 1021kg illicitly manufactured Ketamine valued Rs 102 crore in the international market during raids on the company and premises of its employees.
A DRI official said the company did have a licence to produce Ketamine but Konduskar had increased the production to supply to overseas. They would also traffic Mephedrone to countries where the drug is banned. Receiving on information about consignments of the company, the officials started work on it. "We conducted a detailed research and survey to identify the players in the racket," an official said. The Kumud Drugs Pvt Limited trafficked illegally manufactured Ketamine to places such as the UK, France, Spain, Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Mexico, Uganda and Barbados. Mephdedrone is not banned in India but in other countries.
Konduskar, with the help of his GM Nilesh, would export Mephedrone and Ketamine by camouflaging them as something else, while being sent off through courier or air cargo.
"On June 1, we received the information that Ahire would transport around 200 kg contraband in a Tata Sumo to Andheri for Kothari. From there, we seized the entire consignment of Ketamine, worth Rs 70 lakh," a DRI official said. Another illegally manufactured 800 kg Ketamine was stashed away in a farm, owned by Bhagwat Patil, a close confidant of Konduskar. "Sean had asked for the delivery of 200 kg Ketamine and Kothari was supposed to collect the consignment at his godown in Andheri. After receiving the drugs, Kothari hid them under packets of washing powder or food items, ready to be sent abroad. However, before that, the team raided the premises even as the consignments were being loaded inside the godown. Kothari and Ahire were arrested from the godown," the DRI said in its remand application. "A large stock of washing powder, food items and packing materials have also been seized at the godown.The arrested have been remanded in judicial custody till June 6.