Police in Gujarat found that a scrap warehouse (godown) in Vapi, Valsad district, was secretly being used to manufacture illegal drugs, including banned MD and other narcotics.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Valsad Special Operations Group (SOG) under an action called “Operation Clean.”
Police raided a godown in the Sarigam area of Vapi after receiving a tip-off on May 25. During the raid, they discovered that the warehouse was allegedly being used as a drug manufacturing unit hidden behind a scrap business. Officials said that banned MD (Mephedrone) was being produced there. MD is a synthetic narcotic drug often sold illegally.
During the search, police seized 2.377 kg of Mephedrone (MD), 0.658 kg of another suspected narcotic substance, chemicals and liquid substances, as well as drug-making machines and equipment. The total value of the seized materials and equipment is estimated to be more than ₹1 crore.
Police arrested two people during the operation. Investigators identified the accused as Rajesh Maurya, Abdul Kalam, and Mehul Makwana, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the operation and is currently absconding.
Officials believe these individuals were involved in manufacturing and trafficking synthetic drugs from the industrial area of Vapi.
According to investigators, the unit was operating under the cover of a scrap business so that nearby residents and industrial workers would not become suspicious. Police also suspect that chemicals and liquid substances were brought from outside Gujarat and processed inside the warehouse to manufacture the drugs.
Police said the operation began after intelligence inputs and surveillance confirmed suspicious activity. The seized substances are being examined under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the investigation is now focused on finding interstate links, tracking the money trail, catching the absconding mastermind, and identifying others who may have been involved in the drug network.
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