Mumbai: Acting on specific information, NCB Mumbai seized 1080 bottles of Codeine Based Cough Syrup (CBCS) weighing 108 kg and arrested N. Sheikh in Mumbai on August 8. He had attempted to smuggle the seized CBCS bottles, which were being transported in a passenger bus plying between Gujarat and Mumbai. The seized drugs were to be sold in Mumbai, Bhiwandi and adjoining areas. During the spot investigation, a distributor based in Gujarat was identified. Immediately, a follow-up team left for Gujarat and after extensive field surveillance, a distributor and his warehouse located in Vadodara, Gujarat were seized from where another 13938 CBCS bottles and 12,240 Tramadol tablets were seized. In an attempt to avoid signs of diversion of CBCS bottles, the numbers were found to be tampered with in several CBCS bottles. Moreover, several incriminating documents including fake receipts which were used to convert NRx i.e. narcotics based medicines were also seized.

During the investigation, it was noted that N. Sheikh, who was primarily operating from Bhiwandi area of ​​Thane district in Maharashtra, had earlier been arrested by Maharashtra Police in another NDPS case. His area of ​​operation was Bhiwandi.

It was also informed that the distributor based in Gujarat is wanted in NDPS cases registered by the police.

Tramadol and CBCS are strictly prescription based opioid drugs with legitimate medical use. Tramadol alters the central nervous system (CNS) and is considered to manage pain. Its non-prescribed use causes respiratory depression, rapid heart rate which can lead to fatal outcomes. It has severe withdrawal effects which makes it a dangerous substance for drug abuse. CBCS is commonly used to treat common cough and cold. However, codeine, being an opioid, has addictive and CNS depressant effects, the overdose of which can cause severe respiratory problems, liver and kidney damage with fatal consequences.

Acting on specific information, NCB Mumbai seized 1.060 kg of hashish during a search of the house of a woman named AJ Sheikh in Ghatkopar, Mumbai on August 12. The seized hashish was concealed in household goods and was recently purchased for sale in Mumbai and adjoining areas.

During interrogation, it has been revealed that the arrival of hashish was stopped to a great extent due to stringent drug enforcement measures and the upcoming festive season, due to which the seized hashish was bought by AJ Sheikh and his drug associates at high prices to take advantage of the opportunity. Other key drug associates have been identified and are being traced for their arrest.

Marijuana is a naturally occurring drug with a high THC content that is extracted from the cannabis plant, which is commonly grown in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Prolonged use of marijuana impairs cognitive and reflex development, with adverse effects on memory.

Both cases are under investigation. Both operations highlight the NCB’s continued efforts to dismantle organised drug gangs and target habitual criminals who fuel the drug ecosystem.

Mumbai: Hill collapses are not new to Mumbai, but the state government has failed to take serious steps to address the problem in the last 15 years. In the last 34 years, 340 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured in landslides.

In 25 of Mumbai’s 36 assembly constituencies, 257 places in hilly areas have been classified as dangerous. RTI activist Anil Gilgali said that the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended the relocation of 9,657 out of 22,483 identified slums on priority basis. It had also proposed to make the remaining slums safe by building protective walls around the hills. Gilgali had earlier warned the Maharashtra government about the risk of landslides at 327 places during the monsoon season.

Between 1992 and 2026, 340 people died and over 300 were injured in landslides. The Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended relocation. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2010. If action had been taken then, the deaths of the residents of these hilly areas could have been prevented. Following the board’s report and Anil Gilgali’s correspondence, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan ordered the Urban Development Department to prepare an action plan on September 1, 2011. However, 15 years have passed since then, and the Urban Development Department is yet to start working on it. In other words, no one has prepared an ‘Action Taken Plan’ (ATP) as directed by the Chief Minister,

Mumbai: The Sakinaka police have claimed to have solved the mystery of the robbery at the junk shop of the complainant, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Karim, and arrested the accused. 22 kg of silver and cash worth a total of Rs 44 lakh were stolen from the junk shop. The shop was located in Anise Compound. The police had registered a complaint regarding this. On this basis, the Mumbai Police’s detection team tracked down the thieves and arrested four accused and claimed to have seized silver worth Rs 44 lakh and a mobile phone. The accused have been identified as Maqsood Shah, 20, a resident of Sakinaka in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Zeeshan Abdul Subhan, 20, a resident of Mumbra, Daighar, Akhbar Hussain Ghulam Murtaza, 27, Mumbra, and Irfan Noorullah Khan, 26, Siddharth Nagar, UP. The four accused have been arrested and the stolen goods have been recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Dutta Nalawade on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.