Rs 17.4 Lakh Brown Sugar Seized in Palghar; Auto-Rickshaw Driver Arrested

Maharashtra police arrested a 24-year-old auto-rickshaw driver after recovering brown sugar valued at Rs 17.4 lakh from his possession in Palghar district, authorities reported Thursday. The seizure, part of an ongoing crackdown on narcotics trafficking in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, underscores the challenges of curbing drug proliferation in urban and semi-urban areas.

The accused, identified as Samsad Jamshed Ali from Uttarakhand and residing in Nalasopara, was spotted loitering suspiciously near Capital Mall on the eastern side of Nalasopara Railway Station on Tuesday evening. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Achole police station approached him for a routine check, leading to the discovery of 56.04 grams of brown sugar—a highly potent form of heroin—concealed on his person. Brown sugar, often adulterated with caffeine or paracetamol, is notorious for its rapid addiction potential and devastating health impacts, including respiratory failure and overdose deaths.

Following the initial recovery, a search of Ali's nearby residence yielded an additional 28 grams of the contraband, bringing the total haul to over 84 grams. The operation, conducted without prior resistance, highlights the effectiveness of community vigilance and swift police action in high-risk zones like Palghar, a coastal district notorious for smuggling routes via the Arabian Sea. Officials estimate the street value based on current black-market rates, where even small quantities fetch premium prices amid rising demand.

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A case has been registered against Ali under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which mandates stringent penalties, including up to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for possession with intent to sell. The investigation is probing potential links to larger syndicates operating between northern states and Maharashtra's underworld. As drug enforcement intensifies, this bust serves as a deterrent, though experts call for enhanced rehabilitation programmes to address the root causes of addiction in vulnerable communities.

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