A former cabin crew member and her alleged associate have been arrested in connection with an interstate drug-smuggling case involving nearly 1 kg of mephedrone, commonly known as MD, police said. The drugs, estimated to be worth around Rs 30 lakh, were allegedly being transported from Vadodara in Gujarat to Mumbai when the Surat Crime Branch intercepted the vehicle on Monday. The operation followed information received by the Surat Crime Branch that a large quantity of MD was being transported by car along the route from Vadodara towards Mumbai.
Acting on the information, police officers monitored the vehicle and stopped it near a toll post on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The interception was carried out as part of an investigation into suspected interstate movement of narcotics. During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly recovered 977 grams of mephedrone. Two people were inside the car at the time of the interception — 41-year-old Mansi Sayed, identified as a former airhostess, and her alleged aide, 20-year-old Sohail Suleman Shaikh. Both were taken into custody following the seizure and are being investigated for their alleged involvement in transporting the narcotics.
Investigators also recovered several mobile phones from the vehicle, along with plastic bags and containers that were allegedly being used to package the drugs. The presence of packaging material and multiple phones is being examined as part of the investigation into the suspected supply network. Police are expected to investigate the source of the mephedrone, its intended recipients and whether the accused were working with other people involved in the interstate trafficking operation.
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According to the information released in connection with the case, investigators have also found that Sayed allegedly had a long history of involvement in drug dealing. Her previous activities are now being examined by investigators as they attempt to determine the extent of her alleged role in the narcotics trade. Authorities are also looking into the relationship between Sayed and Shaikh and whether the younger accused had previously been involved in transporting or distributing drugs.
The seizure comes amid continuing efforts by law enforcement agencies to track the movement of synthetic drugs between Gujarat and Maharashtra. Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant that is commonly referred to as MD in India and is classified as a controlled narcotic substance. Its illegal manufacture, possession, transportation and distribution can attract serious criminal penalties under India's narcotics laws. The latest case has also drawn attention to the use of interstate highways and private vehicles for transporting narcotics. Police interceptions based on intelligence inputs can play an important role in disrupting such supply chains before drugs reach their intended destinations.
In this case, the Surat Crime Branch's intervention near the expressway toll post prevented the alleged consignment from continuing towards Mumbai. The investigation remains underway, with police expected to trace the origin and intended destination of the seized 977 grams of mephedrone. Authorities will also examine the seized mobile phones and other material for evidence that could identify additional members of the alleged network. The arrests and seizure represent an important development in the investigation, but the full extent of the accused persons' alleged involvement will be determined through further inquiry and legal proceedings.
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