7 arrested with 503g of MD worth Rs90.6 lakh

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The crime branch on Sunday busted a Madhya Pradesh-based narcotics syndicate and arrested seven persons, seizing 503grams of MD worth Rs 90.6 lakh. The late-night operation was carried out on the Padegaon–Mitmita Road stretch where police also confiscated a car, seven mobile phones and Rs21,000 in cash.Commissioner of police Pravin Pawar termed the action a "major breakthrough" in the city's ongoing crackdown on synthetic drugs. "This is the largest MD haul in the city till date. We are determined to dismantle every link in the supply chain and ensure that those poisoning our youth are brought to justice," he said.Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Ratnakar Navale said the accused include three residents of Madhya Pradesh — Arbaaz Zaheer Khan (33) of Dewas, Harsh Omprakash Sharma (24) of Indore and Anand Deolal Prajapati (24) of Dewas. The other four have been identified as Sheikh Arbaaz Sheikh Indris (24) of Silkmill Colony, Nadeem Sheikh Aleem Sheikh (22) of Padegaon–Mitmita, Azhar Abubakar Sheikh (28) of Devgaon Rangari in Kannad and Faizan Mukhtar Sheikh (21) of Ansar Colony in Padegaon.Police said they had received specific information that Khan, Sharma and Prajapati were arriving in a car with the MD consignment. Acting on the tip-off, a trap was laid from Padegaon to the Mitmita area. When the trio reached an open plot in Mitmita and noticed the police presence, they tried to flee but were chased and apprehended. The MD was recovered from the vehicle.Subsequent examination of their mobile phones revealed that the consignment was to be delivered to Sheikh Arbaaz Idris, who in turn was to distribute it to Nadeem Sheikh and Azhar alias Ajju. Police then arrested the four local recipients.