MIRA-BHAYANDAR, Oct 24 — In a major crackdown on interstate narcotics trafficking, the Crime Detection Branch Unit 4 of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police successfully dismantled a chemical factory in Telangana that was manufacturing raw materials for Mephedrone (MD) drugs. The recent raid marks a significant milestone in an ongoing investigation, bringing the total number of arrests in this sprawling drug syndicate to 25.

The operation traces its roots back to June 24, 2026, when police arrested two individuals—Avinash alias Sonu Loknath Iyer (22) and Ravikant Omprakash Ram (23)—near Priya Washing Center in Nallasopara East. Authorities seized 112 grams of MD worth Rs. 3,36,000 from their possession, registering an FIR at the Tulinj Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Following the initial arrests, senior officials transferred the investigation to Crime Branch Unit 4 for a more in-depth probe. This intensive investigation previously led to the arrest of 19 accused and the unearthing of two illicit MD manufacturing factories. These factories were operating on agricultural lands in Gram Sandhan, Kutch, Gujarat, and Kosada Kala in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Prior to the latest raid, police had already seized 69.871 kilograms of MD, cash, 260 liters of chemicals, and lab equipment.

The continued investigation resulted in the arrest of five more individuals from various locations. These newly arrested suspects include:

• Murtuja Mohammadbhai Patrawala alias Monto alias Hasnain Bhopali (36) from Nandurbar.
• Shubham Vinod More (23) from Buldhana.
• Salim alias Salimbhai Ismail alias Ismail Dola (61) from Mumbai.
• Sabir Mohammad Devlekar alias King Memon alias Sabirali (42) from Mumbai.
• Mohammad Tehrim Abdul Rais Siddiqui (37) from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
  
  Interrogations revealed that a 25th accused, Ramesh Babu Sake, a resident of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, was illegally manufacturing and supplying an NDPS-controlled chemical powder, “2-BROMO-4-METHYLPROPIOPHENONE,” which is essential for producing MD drugs. He was operating out of IDA Pashamylaram in Sangareddy district, Telangana.
  
  Acting on this intelligence, a team from Crime Branch Unit 4 raided the location on October 21, 2026, with the assistance of the Patancheru Police from the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate. The team successfully apprehended Ramesh Babu Sake and destroyed his factory. Police seized 44.699 kilograms of the chemical powder worth Rs. 27,06,740, along with other chemicals and laboratory equipment.
  
  To date, the MBVV police have arrested 25 individuals involved in various roles—including chemical suppliers, drug manufacturers, smugglers, peddlers, and financial facilitators—from Nallasopara, Mumbai, Kalyan, Neral, Jalgaon, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.
  
  The extensive operation was executed by Crime Branch Unit 4 under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Niket Kaushik, Additional Commissioner Sanjay Shintre, DCP (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode, and Senior PI Nitin Patil. The raiding team was led by Police Inspector Pramod Badakh, along with API Pravin Bhosale, API Dattatray Sarak, PSI Umesh Bhagwat, and other personnel, supported by the Cyber Cell.

To ensure the unobstructed movement of pedestrians on footpaths, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing an initiative called ‘Pedestrian First’. In this regard, an enforcement drive was carried out today (October 23, 2026) in Dadar, near the ‘Late Maa Saheb Meenatai Thackeray Flower Market’ and along ‘Senapati Bapat Marg’. During this operation, 12 unauthorized structures—including temporary tarpaulin sheds and illegal platforms—were removed, and 60 hawkers obstructing the footpaths were cleared from the area. This operation was conducted by the BMC’s ‘G-North’ Ward.
Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, the BMC is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ initiative. The objective of this initiative is to clear footpaths of unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, ensuring they remain free from any obstructions.

In this context, the aforementioned action was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone-2) Prashant Sapkale and the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (G-North Ward) Yogesh Desai. Under this initiative, 12 unauthorized structures—including temporary sheds and illegal platforms—were removed in Dadar, near the ‘Late Maa Saheb Meena Tai Thackeray Flower Market’ and along ‘Senapati Bapat Marg’. Additionally, 60 street vendors who were obstructing the footpaths were cleared from the area. Adequate police personnel were deployed on-site during the operation.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation is taking measures to ensure that footpaths remain open and accessible to pedestrians. Consequently, the Municipal Corporation administration has issued directives prohibiting any unauthorized construction on footpaths, as well as the placement of any items that might obstruct the path for pedestrians. Strict action will be taken against any such violations.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a raid in Kurla, Mumbai, and suspended the license of ‘Desired Food and Hospitality’ (Delhi Zaiqa), imposing a complete ban on the sale of food items and prepared dishes at the establishment. Any violation of this order will result in further action by the FDA in accordance with the Food Safety Act.

During the inspection, the FDA observed several issues: the paint or plaster on the walls, ceilings, and doors was peeling; refrigeration and freezing facilities were inadequate; doors were not properly secured against pests; and utensils and containers were not in a condition to be cleaned effectively. The flooring had cracks, lacked proper slip resistance, and had an incorrect slope. Furthermore, food items were not stored at appropriate temperatures, and the establishment failed to follow FIFO (First-In, First-Out) or FEFO (First-Expired, First-Out) inventory management practices.

Additionally, the cooking oil used was unsuitable and unmonitored. There was no segregation between raw and cooked food, or between vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. Utensils were unclean, and the food did not meet hygiene standards. Records regarding suppliers and product expiry dates were unavailable. There was poor management of food quality, alongside unsanitary conditions in the kitchen and surrounding areas, including a lack of cleaning for floors and drains. Based on these findings, the FDA has suspended the establishment’s license for violating established rules and regulations.