A 24-year-old man who had set up a makeshift laboratory to cook mephedrone (MD) in a room in Kandivali West was arrested by the Malvani police on Wednesday. They also seized MD drugs along with raw materials and equipment worth Rs 1.17 crore. The accused Noor Alam Mohammad Alam Chaudhary was arrested following the arrest of another accused, Abrar Ibrahim Shaikh (30), on January 5 by the vigilance team of Malvani police station. Police recovered one gram of MD and a bottle of “100 thinner” — a solvent used to synthesise MD, from Shaikh, who told police that he bought them from Chaudhary. A police team comprising inspector Maroti Shelke and assistant inspector Nilesh Salunke, under the guidance of senior inspector Chimaji Adhav started looking for Chaudhary. They raided a room at Charkop Islam Compound in Kandivali on January 9 where Choudhary was found cooking MD. After a thorough search, 503 grams of high grade MD was found in the laboratory, police said Thursday. The drugs, raw materials and other equipment worth Rs 1.17 crore were seized and Chaudhary was arrested on Wednesday. Police also seized a booklet containing the procedure for making MD from the accused. The accused, Chowdhary was a medical student with an interest in chemistry. While surfing the internet, he explored the Dark Web and stumbled upon the formula to make 'Mephedrone'. He then rented a room in a small chawl and started cooking MD there. He then started gradually selling the drugs in small quantities in the vicinity. As his clients were increasing he increased the production at his self set up lab, said a police officer. The accused was produced before the court on Thursday and was remanded to police custody till January 15. Police are investigating the involvement of more accused in the case. Both the accused have been charged under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, an officer said. The accused Chowdhary is a medical student and Chemistry is his favourite subject. While surfing internet he explored some online platforms on Dark net and stumbled upon the formula of how to make 'Mephedrone'. He then rented a room in a small chawl and started cooking MD there. He started gradually selling the drugs in small quantities in the vicinity. As his clients were increasing he increased the production at his self set up lab, said a police officer. Cops are scanning his contact details to know more about his clients.
