Thane police seize Mephedrone worth ₹4.4 lakh, woman held in Kalyan

Police have arrested a woman after seizing MD (mephedrone) drug valued at ₹4.4 lakh from her possession in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Monday.

The police spotted the woman acting suspiciously in the Vadavali area of Kalyan town on December 5. She was stopped for questioning, and during a search, officers recovered 22 grams of MD from her possession. The accused, identified as Fatima Tarbez Jaffri , a resident of Ambivili in Kalyan, was immediately taken into custody.

She has been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , and further investigation is underway to trace the source of the contraband and possible links to wider drug networks.

MD, commonly known as Mephedrone , is a synthetic stimulant drug from the cathinone class. It increases dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, producing effects similar to cocaine and ecstasy . The drug is considered highly addictive , often more compulsive than ecstasy and comparable to cocaine, with frequent use leading to strong psychological dependence and intense cravings. Users may engage in bingeing behavior , taking repeated doses over short periods to maintain the high, which significantly increases the risk of overdose. While individual sensitivity varies, overdoses can cause serious health issues such as heart failure, seizures, and in some cases, death. Reports from India and abroad have recorded fatalities linked to mephedrone overdose. Though banned in India, it continues to circulate in illegal markets under street names like “meow-meow,” “M-Cat,” and “drone.”

Unlike traditional drugs such as heroin or cannabis, mephedrone receives relatively less public attention. Experts say this is due to its relatively newer entry into illegal markets, constantly changing chemical compositions, and fewer high-profile cases compared to older narcotics.

However, law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged the rapid spread of mephedrone across several states. In recent years, multiple large‑scale seizures have been reported in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana, including the busting of clandestine manufacturing units and inter‑state trafficking networks. Officials say the drug’s spread is partly driven by the fact that it is relatively easy to manufacture compared to plant‑based narcotics, as it is fully synthetic and can be produced in small, indoor illegal labs using chemical precursors. This makes year‑round production possible and allows networks to quickly restart operations even after raids, posing a growing challenge for enforcement agencies.

Officials warn that the increasing availability of synthetic drugs like mephedrone poses a serious public health and law enforcement challenge, especially in urban areas, as investigations continue into organised supply chains behind such substances.