The Amboli police claimed to have arrested a major drug peddler operating in the western suburbs and his supplier after busting a drug deal in progress in Andheri on Sunday.
According to the police, Imran Ansari (32) and Afzal Mumtazali (38) were arrested after police inspector Daya Nayak received a tip-off that they were going to meet for a drug deal in Andheri on Sunday afternoon.
“Based on the information, our team laid a trap near Dev Prestige building on Veera Desai Road and intercepted the duo around 2.50 p.m.,” senior police inspector Bharat Gaikwad, Amboli police station, said.
Organised operation
The two men were searched and Mr. Ansari was found to be carrying 1 kg of mephedrone worth ₹40 lakh in plastic pouches of various sizes.
“The organised nature of Mr. Ansari’s operation is obvious from the fact that he was carrying two electronic weighing scales in his backpack. We suspect that he procures the drugs and supplies them to peddlers in the western suburbs. Inquiries are under way to identify his sources and accomplices,” an officer who was part of the operation said.
The officer said Mr. Mumtazali, who also has theft cases registered against him, has over the last few months emerged as a major player in the drug-peddling circuit, particularly among the elite staying in Bandra and nearby areas.
Cocaine bust probe
Meanwhile, the Anti Narcotics Cell is conducting further inquiries into a cocaine sale racket, which was busted in Amboli on Saturday. The Bandra unit of the ANC had on Saturday arrested foreign nationals Daniel Ezieke and John Francis and seized over 1 kg of cocaine of superior quality from them.
“Inquiries have revealed that they were staying in India even though their visas had expired. We have also found out that Mr. Ezieke had renewed his visa once before in 2010, which means that he has been staying here for at least the last nine years. Information received till now indicates that they have been actively involved in the drug trade all through their stay here, and inquiries are under way to find out more about this,” an ANC officer said.
