Pune: What began as a small drug bust near Sassoon Hospital has now turned into a ₹4,108 crore international drug trafficking case. Pune Police and NCB have uncovered a massive mephedrone supply network operating across multiple Indian states and even extending to foreign countries.
The case started when Pune Police raided Samarth Police Station limits and arrested Vaibhav Mane and an associate, seizing ₹1 crore worth of mephedrone. Their interrogation led to the arrest of Haider Sheikh from Vishrantwadi, from whom 52.52 kg of mephedrone worth ₹105 crore was confiscated.
Following these arrests, authorities raided Arthchem Laboratories in Kurkumbh, where they discovered a staggering 663.8 kg of mephedrone worth ₹1,327.6 crore. Further investigations revealed that 1,836 kg of mephedrone worth ₹3,672 crore was produced at this facility and had been supplied both within India and abroad.
International Drug Smuggling Operation Exposed
As the case expanded beyond Maharashtra, Sandeep Yadav was found to have smuggled 218 kg of mephedrone worth ₹436 crore to London via courier from Delhi. The CBI launched a separate probe, and the NCB managed to trace the exact delivery address in London, confirming an international drug syndicate.
16 People Named in Chargesheet
The NCB has filed a chargesheet in a special court against 16 accused, including key players in the smuggling network:
Vaibhav Mane, a known drug dealer
Sandeep Yadav, alleged mastermind behind international drug shipments
Haider Sheikh, supplier of large drug consignments
Ajay Karosiya, Bhimaji Sable, Yuvraj Bhujbal, and others, who played various roles in the network.
