The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police seized 79 kg of cannabis worth nearly Rs. 15 crore from three men in Powai Tuesday.
Two of the accused are Gujarat based suppliers and the third is a buyer in Mumbai, police said.
Police had been tipped off that Firoz Shubhaniya (33), and Shabbir Shubahniya (35), sellers from Jamnagar, Gujarat, would reach Shree Mahalakshmi Mata Temple on Saki Vihar Road in a Tata Nano car between 1 pm and 1.30 pm Tuesday to deliver the consignment to Salim Dola (46), a resident of Cotton Green.
ANC officers nabbed them after they arrived at the designated spot. The cannabis has been valued at Rs. 14.80 crore. Police said 19 kg was found on Salim, 21 kg each with Firoz and Shabbir and 18 kg in the car.
All three were produced before a magistrate Wednesday and remanded in police custody until July 6.
Police said Firoz and Shabbir drove from Jamnagar and concealed the cannabis in several small notebook packets containing 1-2 kg each, which were packed in travel bags.
“Both men said this is the first time they brought their supply to Mumbai. We are verifying their claim and trying to establish which party contacted the other,” said inspector Vilas Bhole of ANC (Ghatkopar).
He added that Firoz had lived in Vasai for several years before moving to Gujarat and had had a previous brush with the ANC. “He had been convicted in a narcotics case previously and was sentenced to 10 years. He challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court and got it overturned,” Bhole said.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cannabis-worth-rs-15-cr-seized-in-powai-three-arrested/1137453/
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