Drug racket crushed; 11 accounts frozen

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The crime branch arrested Ishrat Shaikh (28, Ravindra nagar) recently, key financial handler of Ashfaq Shaikh (Shahabazar), and froze 11 bank accounts. A manhunt is on for 46 absconding peddlers.

Ishrat, routed funds from arrested smugglers through her three accounts; Rs 1.5 lakh was found. Direct transactions with eight of the 16 arrested accused were established. A DVR with CCTV footage from Ashfaq’s residence was seized from her house.

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383 calls in 45 days

Investigators found 383 contacts between Ishrat and Ashfaq in 45 days, mostly via WhatsApp. She managed finances for drug trade. A widow for two years, she lives with her brother and three children.

The crackdown began on January 25, when a four-member gang carrying liquid drugs from Latur, allegedly on Ashfaq’s instructions, was arrested after attempting to ram police. Ashfaq fled. Acting on directives from police commissioner Pravin Pawar and deputy commissioner of police Ratnakar Navale, crime branch police inspectors Gajanan Kalyankar and assistant police inspector Ravikant Gacche dismantled the network in 17 days.

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Narcotics worth Rs 51.64 lakh seized

Between January 25 and February 7, 16 smugglers, including two women, were arrested in phased operations. Police seized 11,799 bottles of liquid drugs worth Rs 47.20 lakh and 75 grams of MD drugs worth Rs 4.44 lakh, totaling Rs 51.64 lakh. Further arrests are expected.

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16 arrested in phased operations

Jan 25: Shaikh Sameer (24, AnandNagar, Latur), Syed Altaf (23, Udgir, Latur), Umar Shaikh (36, Burhan Nagar, Latur)

Jan 27: Syed Shahid Ali (30, ST Colony, Udgir)

Jan 29: Sheikh Kaleem (35), Anita Pachonde (20), Avinash Pachonde (23) all resident of Ravindra Nagar, Shaikh Mustaq (27, ST Colony)

Jan 30: Syed Rahim (26, City Chowk)

Feb 4: Obedulla Abdullah (32, Kiradpura), Shaikh Sofiyan (34, Baijipura), Abdul Naveed Khan (31, Jinsi), Shaikh Naved Shaikh Hamid (25, Labour Colony), Shaikh Ayyaz aka Sheru Shaikh (42, Kile Ark)

Feb 7: Shaikh Aftab (19, Bhoi Wada), Shaikh Iraf (Beed Bypass)