In a coordinated operation, the Surat Crime Branch has uncovered a major drug racket, conducting simultaneous raids at five locations in a single day. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of Mephedrone (MD drug) and the arrest of 10 individuals involved in the illicit trade.
The operation comes as part of the "No Drugs in Surat City" campaign, an ongoing initiative by the Surat Police to combat the rising sale of drugs that threaten the lives of the city's youth. The latest success marks a significant victory in the police's relentless efforts to dismantle drug networks operating within the city.
The operation began when the Surat Crime Branch received a tip-off that Rabia Sheikh, a resident of Govandi, Mumbai, was transporting a large consignment of MD drugs to Surat. Acting swiftly on this information, the police apprehended Rabia and her accomplice, Shafiq Khan Pathan, at Surat Railway Station as they disembarked from the Suryanagari train from Mumbai. A subsequent search revealed 250 grams of MD drugs concealed in a school bag among clothing items.
Interrogations of the suspects led the police to additional drug peddlers in Surat. This intelligence prompted the Crime Branch to conduct raids at five different locations. At the Kacha Marina Hotel in the Pal area, officers arrested Sarfaraz alias Salman in room 404 and seized 28 grams of MD drugs. Near Rama Residency in the Rander area, Faisal Allarakha Kachra and Yasin Babul Mulla were detained with 31 grams of drugs.
Further investigation revealed that Mohsin Sheikh was hiding at his friend Asfaq Sheikh's house. During the raid, Asfaq attempted to escape by jumping from one building to another but was unsuccessful and sustained injuries. He was shifted to the hospital, where 14 grams of drugs were found on him. Additionally, Asif Syed alias Babu was arrested in front of Shruti Hospital in Nanpura with 27 grams of MD drugs.
The coordinated raids resulted in the seizure of 354.650 grams of MD drugs and 1.930 grams of marijuana. The 10 arrested individuals include Rabia Banu from Govandi, Shafiq Khan Pathan from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Sarfaraz and Salman from Bharuch, and Faisal Allarakha Kachra, Yasin Babul.
