Fadnavis announces Rs 25 lakh reward to Pune police team that busted Mephedrone racket

Fadnavis visited the police commissionerate on Saturday to felicitate the cops who played a role in the action that led to one of the biggest Mephedrone haul in the country. During the felicitation ceremony, there was a special mention of head constable Vitthal Salunkhe, whose tip-off led to the crackdown.

In his speech, Fadnavis said action against the Mephedrone racket is an eye opener. “If the drugs seized by the police had reached the end users, it could have damaged several families, especially the youngsters,” he said.

Fadnavis also mentioned that the state has “zero tolerance” towards narcotics substances that causes devastation that even missiles and bullets cannot do. Fadnavis expressed his concern about the way factories are set up for manufacturing of Mephedrone.

“There is a huge financial transaction involved in the racket….There are international links to the drugs racket. Couriers, dark net, social media are being used (by racketeers). Actions against drugs should continue,” he said.

Amitesh Kumar, Commissioner of Pune city police said central agencies have been informed about the Mephedrone haul.

Police are searching for Sundip Dhunay alias Samson, a British national of Indian origin, who is suspected to be one of the key accused in the Mephedrone cartel. Police have initiated a process for issuance of a Red Corner Notice through the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organisation) against him.

Also, cops are hunting for an African national identified as ‘Brown’, whose role in the Mephedrone racket emerged during investigation. Police also suspect that the Mephedrone manufactured at a factory in Kurkumbh in Daund taluka of Pune district was supplied to Delhi and from there to Nepal and other places in the country and abroad.