Mumbai’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has seized a total of 4.034 kg of the synthetic drug Mephedrone (MD) valued at around ₹10.07 crore in a series of operations across Malad, Jogeshwari, Dadar and MIDC Navi Mumbai. Five people including a Nigerian citizen have been arrested in connection with the cases.
According to officials, the operations were carried out between July 28 and August 2, 2025, under different units of the ANC: Ghatkopar, Bandra and Worli.
The first case was registered by the Ghatkopar Unit on July 28 after a suspect was detained in Jogeshwari West. A physical search led to the recovery of 504 grams of Mephedrone. Following this, his accomplice was arrested with 518 grams of the drug. In total, 1.022 kg of Mephedrone worth ₹2.55 crore was seized and a case was registered against the two accused under the NDPS Act.
On August 7, the Bandra Unit acted on a tip-off and arrested a suspect in Pathanwadi, Malad East, seizing 766 grams of Mephedrone worth ₹1.91 crore. A case was filed under Section 2.No. 61/25 of the NDPS Act.
The same day, the Worli Unit conducted a raid in Dadar West’s Dakshin Vahini area and arrested a man with 690 grams of Mephedrone valued at ₹1.72 crore.
During further investigation into the Bandra Unit’s case, a Nigerian national suspected of supplying the drug was arrested on August 2 in MIDC Navi Mumbai. Officers recovered 1.024 kg of Mephedrone worth ₹2.56 crore from him. This brought the total seizure in the Bandra case to 1.556 kg which is valued at ₹3.89 crore with two accused in custody.
In all four operations combined, authorities seized 4.034 kg of Mephedrone with an estimated value of ₹10.07 crore. The five arrested suspects are aged between 24 and 64 years.
These operations were conducted under the supervision of senior police officers, including Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam, and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shailesh Balkawade, along with senior ANC officials from the Ghatkopar, Bandra, and Worli units.
The investigation into possible wider supply networks is ongoing.
