Pune: The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Pune Police arrested a major trafficker from Gujarat and seized Mephedrone worth ₹1 crore.

The trafficker, identified as Mohammad Aslam Mohammad Ismail Merchant, a resident of Jambusar in Bharuch district, Gujarat, was apprehended for supplying the drug to various parts of the country, including Pune.

Acting on a tip-off, the Anti-Narcotics Cell raided an apartment in the Lohegaon area of Vishrantwadi, where they discovered 471 grams of Mephedrone.

Three individuals connected to the case—Srinivas Santosh Godje, Rohit Bende, and Nimish Abnave—were taken into custody. The investigation revealed that the drugs were being delivered through a courier service, leading to the arrest of Viswanath Konapure, an employee of the courier company, who was residing in Kale Padal, Hadapsar, but originally hails from Solapur.

Further investigations exposed Nimish Abnave as the key player in the Mephedrone distribution network in Pune. Under police interrogation, Abnave disclosed that the drugs were supplied by Mohammad Merchant from Gujarat.

Acting on this information, a police team traveled to Bharuch, Gujarat, where they successfully apprehended Merchant.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Additional Police Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Crime Branch Nikhil Pingle, and Assistant Commissioner Ganesh Ingle.

The Anti-Narcotics Unit's team, including Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam, Assistant Inspector Nitin Naik, Sub-Inspector Digambar Kokate, and officers Avinash Lahote, Nitesh Jadhav, Dayanand Telange, and Avinash Konde, played a crucial role in the operation.