The Dongri police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against four Nigerian drug peddlers, who were arrested in February. The move aims to tackle the growing menace of Nigeran drug peddlers, who, over the last couple of years, have taken to assaulting policemen.
Police officers said on February 23, three accused, identified as Okpala Chigbo Benedict (28), Turre Musa (28), and Remond Anite (23), were arrested after they were allegedly found to be in possession of 173 grams of mephedrone worth ₹5.19 lakh.
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Following their interrogation, the police arrested Ique Chickweni Emanual (28) on February 27, and seized 58 grams of mephedrone worth ₹1.74 lakh from his possession, and another 20 grams from his house.
“The accused were remanded in judicial custody. During investigation, we found out that Mr. Emanual was also involved in two prior cases. He was first arrested in 2014 by the Dongri police in a drug peddling case and had assaulted the police team during this time, for which he was also charged with attempt to murder under the Indian Penal Code. In 2015, he was arrested by the Bandra unit of the Anti Narcotics Cell in a drug possession case,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dongri division) Avinash Dharmadhikari said.
Based on this information, the Dongri police sought the approval of their superiors to invoke the MCOCA against the accused. The Act demanded that at least one of the arrested accused be charge-sheeted for two prior offences, and that there be evidence to indicate that the offence was an act of organised crime for pecuniary gain.
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Police officials said apart from the two prior cases against Mr. Emanual, in which the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was invoked, investigations established that he had formed his own gang for monetary gain.
“As per the procedure of the MCOCA, we produced the four accused before the MCOCA court on Friday, and they were remanded in police custody till April 22,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Abhishek Trimukhe said.
Since the conditions laid down by the MCOCA require the case to be investigated by an ACP-level officer, Mr. Dharmadhikari has now been appointed as the investigating officer in the case.
“The accused mainly specialise in the sale of cocaine and mephedrone, and are residents of Nallasopara. We are probing to get more information about their activities,” Mr. Dharmadhikari said.
Passed in 1999, the MCOCA was originally aimed at curbing the activities of the criminal underworld, which was at its peak in Mumbai in the 1990s. Subsequently, the police started invoking it against chain snatchers with multiple offences against them, after it was found that chain snatchings were being committed by organised gangs. The Act carries a stronger penalty than the Indian Penal Code, and accused charged under the Act can not secure bail for at least eight to 10 months.