9th MCOCA crackdown: 15-Member drug syndicate busted, assets frozen in city

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

In its ninth MCOCA action under commissioner of police Pravin Pawar, city police have booked a 15-member drug syndicate led by notorious smuggler Ashpak Shaikh (32, Ravindranagar). The proposal was approved on Monday, with the asset seizure process initiated and 13 bank accounts frozen.

Ashpak, along with aides Daud Pathan (28) and Sarfaraz Beg (27), ran a widespread network supplying narcotic pills and liquid drugs, drawing many youths into addiction. Earlier, 18 members were arrested on January 25 for sourcing drugs from Latur and Udgir, while Ashpak fled across multiple cities and Nepal before being arrested on February 18 from a Nashik hotel by a team led by PI Gajanan Kalyankar.

Ashpak has eight serious cases, including murder, attempt to murder, arms possession, and drug trafficking. He allegedly used vulnerable youths from Jinsi and City Chowk to sell drugs, often assaulting them.

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Entire gang dismantled

Along with Ashpak Shaikh, action has been taken against several gang members, including Shaikh Kaleem , Shaikh Mustaq, Avinash alias Aavdya Pachunde, Shaikh Sohail, Ajay Salve, Shaikh Sameer, Syed Altaf, Syed Shahed, Syed Rahim, Daud Pathan, Sarfaraz Beg, Shaikh Hafiz, Anita Pachunde, and Ishrat Shg, who managed Ashpak’s financial dealings. The entire gang, including key aides and financial handler Ishrat Shaikh, is now in Harsul Central Jail.

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Drugs worth Rs 52 lakh seized

• During initial raids, police seized 53.32 grams of drugs, eight mobile phones, Rs 3.36 lakh in cash, jewellery worth Rs 8 lakh, and swords from Ashpak’s residence.

• A total of narcotics worth Rs 52.74 lakh was seized from the gang.

• In the last nine months, Ashpak reportedly conducted transactions worth Rs 45 lakh through drug trade. A total of 13 bank accounts linked to the accused have been frozen.

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9th MCOCA action targets organised crime

This is the ninth MCOCA action by Pawar, who has earlier cracked down on multiple gangs, dismantling organised crime networks in the city.