Mumbai drug kingpin’s city network busted, four held

Nagpur: Mumbai’s top MD (mephedrone) drugs kingpin Zuber Shaikh’s network in city was busted by crime branch’s anti-narcotics cell with the seizure of contraband powder worth around Rs30 lakh and the arrest of four persons. Following a tip-off from Nagpur police, their Mumbai counterparts and also State Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) have now launched a manhunt for Zuber.Apart from Nagpur, Zuber’s drug network is also learnt to be spread across Vidarbha. In the latest case, Amravati-based Sonu Qazi too is wanted now for being part of the network which received the highly priced MD powder through Zuber’s supply chain operated via Nagpur.Azaruddin Qazi, 37, a key operative of Zuber, was caught after a 30-hour non-stop operation and surveillance by the crime branch team. His arrest paved the way for arrest of three more, identified as Irfan Ahmad, Nadeem Khan and Sayyed Sohail. Police have recovered their cellphones, getting substantial data of the city’s narcotics trade and networks.Sources said the anti-narcotics cell, under the supervision of CP Ravinder Singal, Jt CP Aswati Dorje and DCP crime Nimit Goyal, had started a vigorous crackdown on the network of MD drugs in Nagpur controlled by Mumbai kingpins, including Zuber.Zuber, who operates from the Mumbai suburbs, is said to have a chemical laboratory to manufacture the narcotics. Officials said the 306gm top quality MD, which was recovered from Qazi, was packed into different packets with colour codes for supply to different peddlers.Sources said the team of anti-narcotics cell compromising of assistant sub-inspectors Siddharth Patil, and Vivek Adawu, constables Manoj Neware and Suraj Bhanawat among others under senior inspector Gajana Gulhane and assistant inspector Manoj Ghurde had received a tip-off about Qazi, whose wife works with a bank marketing team.The drugs courier was returning with substantial MD powder by Duronto Express from Mumbai to Nagpur. Despite laying a trap, Qazi had managed to sneak out of the railway station and reached Teka Naka in north Nagpur.During searches, the cops managed to zero down on Qazi at Teka Naka and trapped three others whom Zuber had sent to collect the MD drugs as per their orders placed earlier.“Qazi does not have any crime records. He was introduced to Zuber through a contact in Mominpura. Qazi, Nadeem and some others seem to have started working for Zuber for fast money as they don’t have any past crime records. Only Sohail has a past record in narcotic peddling,” said a source.
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