Five cases of drug peddling were registered and seven people, including an elderly woman, were arrested in the city on Wednesday. Officers said four cases were registered by the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch and the fifth by the Powai police.
Accused falls ill
According to the Powai police, its patrolling unit spotted Asgaribegum Ali (65), a repeat offender, in Morarji Nagar and questioned her. She claimed she was selling onions and potatoes. Senior police inspector Anil Pophale said, “When we searched her bag, we found two kg of cannabis. We then took her to the police station and registered a case against her. She started complaining of high blood pressure before she could be placed under arrest. We have admitted her to the hospital and will arrest her when she is discharged.”
ANC officers said the first of the four cases was registered by the Worli unit. Nafis Khan (49) was arrested from Indira Nagar in Kurla after he was allegedly found with 21 grams of mephedrone. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivdeep Lande said, “Khan said he bought the drugs from a supplier identified as Sarfaraz Khan (32). Our team laid a trap near Dnyaneshwar Vidyalaya in Sewri and arrested him. He is a major supplier of mephedrone in Kurla.”
Mr. Lande said the second case was registered by the Ghatkopar unit. The officers seized 2.10 kg of cannabis from two men identified as Ram Mupnaar (45) and Arjun Rethe (34). They were intercepted during patrolling in Mankhurd and drugs were found in their bags. The duo was then placed under arrest.
Young offenders
In the third case, the Azad Maidan unit of the ANC arrested Rajesh Potsul (21), a Nagpada resident, found carrying 60 grams of mephedrone near Moon Motor Training School in Dongri.
In the fourth case, the Kandivali police arrested Rajesh Wange (38) and Suraj Jadhav (19) from Kurar village in Malad with 1.20 kg of cannabis. All the accused have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.