Thane police bust narcotics network linked to interstate MD drug trafficking

Thane, July 30, 2025 Thane police have arrested a 36-year-old food delivery executive for possessing narcotics worth ₹3 crore. The arrest has helped uncover a major drug trafficking network between Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh. Anti-narcotics officers caught the accused, Irfan Amanullah Shaikh, with 2.18 kg of mephedrone, also known as ‘meow meow’, during a late night raid.

Police intercepted Shaikh, a resident of Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, near Shilphata on Sunday. Police first found 1.5 kg of mephedrone on him and later seized another 662 grams. Investigators believe he used his delivery job as a cover to transport drugs across Mumbai and Thane. Acting on prior intelligence, officers from the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Crime Branch laid the trap. The police filed charges under the NDPS Act and are tracing Shaikh’s financial links, handlers, and supply chain contacts.

Moreover, officials confirmed that the accused will remain in police custody until July 30. Currently, Thane police crime branch teams are reviewing his delivery routes and past orders for signs of earlier trafficking attempts. The investigators are focusing on breaking down his network of handlers and identifying drug consignment routes.

Meanwhile, in a related operation, Crime Branch Unit 1 arrested Shahrukh Sattar Mewati, alias Rizwan (28), from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. Police caught him on July 24 near Hari Ganga at Toll Naka, Kalwa. Police recovered 662 grams of MD from his vehicle, valued at ₹92.68 lakh. Rizwan’s interrogation revealed possible links to other drug seizures in the region. As a result, police now suspect interstate coordination. Authorities are probing possible connections between Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai in the drug network.

Additionally, Thane police are investigating possible links between the two arrested individuals. Officials are reviewing storage sites, movement logs, and financial records to track how the drugs moved, where they were stored, and how they were distributed across cities. Officers are treating both arrests as part of a larger, organized syndicate with national-level operations.

These high-value seizures have once again drawn attention to the increasing use of couriers and logistics workers in narcotics smuggling. Authorities emphasized the importance of monitoring unconventional drug mules and strengthening city-level surveillance. Investigations remain ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming days.

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