Biggest narcotics haul; 4 arrested

On a tip-off, the officers raided the residence of a 21-year-old Iranian national, Masood Asghar Mughtadery. The search yielded 2.9 kg heroin, 0.45 kg of methaqualone powder, 0.060 kg charas, 0.60 kg opium, collectively valued at Rs 13,10,000 in the Indian illicit market and over Rs three crore in the international market.

Masood, Ali Raza Dekhani of Imambura, Synagogue Street, scrap shop owner Javed Ahmed Khan of Laxminagar, Yerawada and Mukesh Mahanlal Rathod from Madhya Pradesh were arrested during the search and produced before a judicial magistrate (first class) who remanded them to judicial custody.

During the interrogations, the Iranian revealed that his flat was used for storing, packing and distribution of narcotics in the city.

Expressing serious concern over the growing demand for narcotics in and around Pune, Narang did not rule out the possibility of these being actually consumed in the city.

Significantly, the accused had used the residential premises for packing heroin in small packs of 2 gm and 5 gm. Intelligence reports of the commissionerate have revealed that around 10,000 foreigners are expected in the city this week. At any given time, the city has around 5000 foreigners alluding to the possibility of a growing demand for narcotics.

Earlier, the officers of the commissionerate seized around 261 kg of ganja from two places. The first search was conducted at the residence of Bhujangrao Kadam at Evthi Phata, Davalgaon, near Shirur and another 11 kg were seized from raids conducted at Dehu Road.