An illegal weed plantation was uncovered during a major anti-drug operation in Mumbai’s Bhandup area near Water Tank Road in Jamil Nagar. Acting on specific information about the unlawful cultivation, local authorities, along with residents, launched a drive to clear the site and destroy the plants. According to a post shared by ‘mumbai.insights’, the action took place in the presence of the corporator from Ward 116, who was seen actively joining the operation with officials and locals. Videos from the location showed people entering the field and uprooting the plants to ensure that the entire illegal crop was removed from the area completely.
The operation was reportedly carried out as part of a larger campaign aimed at keeping the locality free from drugs and curbing narcotics-related activities in the neighbourhood. Residents of the area expressed support for the initiative and appreciated the authorities for taking firm action against the illegal cultivation. The crackdown drew attention on social media after visuals from the spot surfaced online, showing the coordinated effort to clear the plantation. However, officials are yet to release detailed information regarding the total size of the farm or confirm whether any individuals linked to the cultivation have been arrested in connection with the case so far.
In another major anti-narcotics action, the Crime Detection Branch (Unit 4) of the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police busted a large drug trafficking network and seized 6.773 kilograms of Mephedrone (MD). The confiscated narcotics are estimated to be worth nearly ₹13.61 crore in the international market. The operation was initiated on May 4 after Police Inspector Pramod Badakh and his team received reliable intelligence about a huge stock of drugs allegedly stored inside the Chedda Adarsh building located in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road, prompting officials to immediately launch a raid at the premises.
During the raid, police recovered 1.324 kilograms of MD valued at around ₹2.66 crore from the residence of a woman identified as Firdos Arbaz Qureshi. Investigators later found that the seized narcotics allegedly belonged to her husband, Arbaz Vakil Qureshi. Both individuals were taken into custody soon after the recovery. Following their interrogation, officials reportedly uncovered details about a larger distribution and supply chain connected to the operation. Further raids conducted by the police resulted in the arrest of multiple suspected associates from different locations, indicating that the network was spread across several regions and involved numerous individuals linked to drug trafficking activities.
The MBVV Police are now conducting an extensive investigation to trace both the supply source and the intended buyers connected to the drug syndicate. Officials stated that efforts are underway to examine the “forward and backward linkages” of the racket in order to identify the original manufacturers, suppliers and the people who were expected to receive the narcotics. Investigators are also trying to determine the scale of the network and whether it has links to larger interstate or international drug operations. Authorities have intensified their probe and are continuing searches and interrogations to uncover more individuals allegedly involved in the illegal trade.