A shocking case of drug smuggling has come to light in Nashik, where a couple from Malegaon resorted to selling Mephedrone (MD) to clear their debts after suffering heavy business losses. The couple, who once ran a clothing shop, turned to drug trafficking to manage their financial burdens and family responsibilities.
To expand their illegal business, the duo sought help from contacts in Lasalgaon. They began preparing small packets of 1.5 grams of MD and selling them in areas like Vinchur, Satana, Baglan, Lasalgaon, and Kalwan at prices ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per packet. Malegaon soon became a hub for their illicit trade.
On Friday, Nashik City NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) officials laid a trap near Nashik Road railway station and arrested the drug smugglers. The accused, Abdul Samad Siraj Ahmed Ansari (45), also known as Babu, and his wife Shabana (40), were caught with 71 grams of Mephedrone worth ₹3.6 lakh.
Investigations revealed that the couple had procured the drugs from Mira Road in Mumbai through an acquaintance. They planned to travel from Mumbai to Nashik by train and then take a private vehicle or ST bus to Malegaon via Agra Road, where they were intercepted by the authorities.
The probe also found that the couple had been dealing drugs since last year, selling Mephedrone at ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per gram. Authorities are now investigating their supply chain and identifying local peddlers involved in the Malegaon, Lasalgaon, and Vinchur networks.
Interestingly, the Ansari couple has eight children, and Shabana is Abdul's second wife. Abdul has three children from his first wife and two from his second, while Shabana has two children from her first husband. One of their children has passed away. It is believed that financial struggles pushed them into drug trafficking as a means of survival.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to trace the main supplier and other accomplices involved in this illegal drug trade.