The Gujarat ATS seized 24.28 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 121.4 crore from a makeshift factory in Vadodara’s Sayajigunj area. Within the last 10 days, the state’s ATS has seized mephedrone and chemicals (used to make the drug) worth a total of Rs 607 crore. Previously, Gujarat ATS seized 63.613 kg of mephedrone and another 80 kg of chemicals (used to make mephedrone) worth Rs 478.65 crore from a cattle farm near Sindhrot on the outskirts of Vadodara. ATS apprehended five suspects during that haul.
Among those arrested were Saumil Pathak (57) of Subhanpura in Vadodara and Shailesh Kataria (45) from Bhagyalaxmi Society in Gorwa area of Vadodara. Kataria, who holds a BSc in chemistry is thought to be the mastermind behind drug production. Vinod Nijama (42) of Sindhrot Road in Nizampura, Mohammed Shafi Diwan (48), of Nadiad and Bharat Chavda (47) of Gotri Road in Vadodara are the third accused.
Later, another suspect was apprehended with 1.770 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 8.85 crore.
Based on information provided by the accused, Gujarat ATS seized 24.280 kg mephedrone from a makeshift factory in the Sayajigunj area of Vadodara.
ATS officials said that the key accused, Salim Dhola, who is still on the run, has links with drug traffickers in Dubai and the D-Gang. “We have our teams based in Mumbai to trace Dhola,” said an ATS official.