Mephedrone factory busted in Nalasopara, five arrested

The five accused have been identified as Mohsin Kayyum Sayad (40), Iqbal Bilal Shaikh (33), and Mehtab Sherali Khan (29), all residents of Govandi; Sohail Abdul Saif Ali Khan (36) from Ghatkopar, and Ayubali Abubakar Siddique alias Yakub, a native of Panvel currently residing in Nalasopara. “Siddique is in police custody while the rest of the four accused are in judicial custody,” said a police officer.

The investigation began on October 5 when Zone 6 officials intercepted Mohsin Sayad in the Tilak Nagar area based on a tip-off and recovered 57.84 grams of mephedrone (MD) from his possession. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Tilak Nagar police station. During interrogation, Sayad revealed the involvement of Iqbal Shaikh and Mehtab Khan, leading to their arrest on October 7.

While questioning the trio, Sohail Khan’s name came to the fore who was apprehended from Ghatkopar’s Chirag Nagar area on October 15 .

“Police questioned Sohail and after a detailed investigation and based on technical evidence, police finally found the connection of the main accused, Ayubali Siddique, who was manufacturing the mephedrone in Pelhar,” said a police officer.

Siddique, originally from Panvel but residing in Nalasopara was arrested on Saturday. “After his interrogation, police reached the manufacturing unit. The accused was running the entire unit in a fully-equipped 1,400 sq ft area,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 6) Samir Shaikh.

The illegal laboratory, located in Rashid Compound, Khairpada, Pelhar, was fully equipped for large-scale production. During the raid, police seized 6.678 kg of mephedrone and a substantial quantity of raw materials used in the manufacturing process. The total seizure is estimated at Rs 13.5 crore.

Investigators are also probing the role of the property owner. “Police have been questioning the owner of the factory and verifying if he was aware that narcotics were being manufactured in his plot. So far, we have not been able to ascertain his role in the case but it will become clear only after further investigation,” added DCP Shaikh.

Authorities believe the operation was part of a wider syndicate involving financiers and logistical facilitators. “There are other accused involved in the syndicate who were helping to manufacture as well as providing finance to run the factory. Police will soon nab them,” Shaikh said.