MBVV Police Bust Telangana Chemical Unit Linked to Multi-State Mephedrone Network

The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police have busted an illegal chemical manufacturing unit in Telangana allegedly supplying precursor materials for Mephedrone (MD) production, arresting the suspected manufacturer and seizing chemicals worth more than Rs 27 lakh, an officer said on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandip Doiphode said a specialised team from crime branch unit-4 raided an industrial unit in the IDA Pashamylaram area of Patancheru, in Sangareddy district, on October 21, with support from local police under the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate.

The police arrested Ramesh Babu Sake, identified as the alleged chemical manufacturer, and seized nearly 45 kg of 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone, a controlled precursor used in the synthesis of Mephedrone. The material was valued at over Rs 27 lakh. Raw chemical compounds and laboratory equipment were also recovered, and the facility was dismantled, police said.

The operation followed an investigation that began on June 24, when MBVV Police intercepted two suspects in Nalasopara (East), in Maharashtra's Palghar district, and recovered 112 grams of Mephedrone from their possession.

Further inquiries led investigators to two suspected clandestine MD manufacturing laboratories operating on agricultural land in Sandhan village in Gujarat's Kutch district and Kosada Kala in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj district.

According to police, the accused were obtaining the precursor chemical from the Telangana facility, which allegedly supplied a key material required for MD production.

Before the latest raid, investigators had seized nearly 70 kg of Mephedrone, around 260 litres of precursor chemicals, substantial cash reserves and specialised laboratory equipment during the multi-state operation.

With the arrest in Telangana, the total number of people arrested in the case has risen to 25, police said. Those arrested allegedly include drug manufacturers, precursor suppliers, smugglers, peddlers and financial handlers.

The investigation is continuing to establish the roles of those involved in the alleged interstate drug supply network.