THE THANE police probing a case related to Mephedrone (MD) seizure within its jurisdiction last month tracked down the location of the factory to Uttarakhand and arrested three persons who were trying to flee to Nepal from the Nepal-UP border.
The police said they seized drug-making equipment and other items collectively worth Rs 30 lakh.
The trio arrested now include two residents of Uttarakhand identified as Om Gupta and Amar Kohli while the third accused Bhim Yadav is from Nallasopara.
It was while investigating a case of narcotics registered at the local Kasarwadavli police station on June 1 where 10 grams of MD was seized by Thane crime branch (unit V) that led the police to the Uttarakhand unit.
The two accused told the police that the contraband had been manufactured in Uttarakhand following which a team was sent to Pithorgarh.
On June 27, the team raided a factory and seized raw materials, including chemicals and machinery, worth over Rs 18 lakh.
Police said the accused had fled the premises before the raid. Three of them attempted to cross into Nepal but were intercepted and arrested on June 28 with the help of local authorities. The trio was produced in court and remanded in police custody until July 5.
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An official said they have found that Gupta and Kohli were previously involved in the manufacturing of MD powder in Uttar Pradesh. A prior FIR had also been registered against them at the Kasarwadavali police station, and both were absconding in that case.
