In a major crackdown, Mumbai Police have busted a high-profile synthetic drugs racket being operated by a fugitive and notorious drug trafficker from Gujarat. The police have arrested the main Accused, his wife, and an associate in connection with the case.
According to police officials, the prime accused, Mohammad Arif Mohammad Ilyas Sheikh, had earlier been convicted in drug trafficking cases in Gujarat. He had jumped parole in 2023 while serving a sentence at Lajpore Jail in Surat and had been absconding since then, with Gujarat Police actively searching for him.
Secret Drug Factory in Andheri:
During his time on the run, Arif relocated to Mumbai and began living with his wife Nasreen in the Santacruz East area. To evade detection, he used separate locations for residence and illegal operations. He rented a small room in a chawl on Sahar Road in Andheri for just ₹13,000 per month and covertly converted it into a manufacturing unit for MD (Mephedrone) drugs.
Investigations revealed that drugs worth approximately ₹25–30 crore were being produced every month from this small setup and supplied across multiple networks. To avoid suspicion, the accused deliberately avoided distributing drugs within his local area.
The case came to light when a team from Khar Police detained a suspicious person during routine patrolling. A search led to the recovery of 15.44 grams of MD drugs. During interrogation, the accused revealed his identity and exposed the entire network.
Subsequently, police conducted a raid at the Andheri location and seized drug manufacturing equipment and chemicals.
Police suspect that Arif’s associate, Rizwan Ahmed, attempted to destroy evidence prior to the raid. However, he was later tracked down and arrested from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Investigations further revealed that Arif’s wife, Nasreen, was managing the financial aspects of the illegal business. Authorities have frozen ₹26 lakh from her bank account, suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking.
Police records indicate that Arif has over 15 criminal cases registered against him. Despite his criminal background, he managed to establish a large-scale drug network in Mumbai.
Mumbai Police are now probing the supply chain and tracking down other associates linked to the racket. The case has also raised serious concerns over how a fugitive convict managed to operate undetected in a major city like Mumbai for such a long period.