NAGPUR: The latest action by the special cell of crime branch, which had recovered MD drugs worth more than Rs four lakh arresting three peddlers, has led to the facts that narcotic variety has started costing more in the state following the Mumbai cruise drugs case which grabbed national attention last year.
Sources said the MD drug costs around Rs10,000 per gram in the international market. The adulterated variety was earlier available in Indian markets for around Rs1,200 per gram but after the Mumbai cruise drugs case, it is costing around Rs2,000-Rs2,200 per gm or even more. The MD drug is mainly supplied from Mumbai.
Though the reason behind the price rise is not clear, it’s learnt several goons have taken to selling the drug to earn some fast cash. In the latest action, similar facts have come to fore.
The three arrested persons, identified as Aman Khare, Priyanshu Gajbhiye and Sanu Kodape, seemed to have ganged up not only due to their addiction but also to make some money too. Crime branch team under addl CP Sunil Phulari, DCP Akshay Shinde, Asst PI Suraj Suroshe, head constable Rajesh Deshmukh and others nabbed the gang from a discreet place.
Khare, having a murder case in the past, had made the maximum investment followed by Kodape and Gajbhiye with an aim to sell MD at Rs2,500-Rs3,000 per gm in Nagpur. They had purchased the drug from Sion in Mumbai for Rs2,000-2,200 per gm. Apart from seizing 41gm MD, police have also recovered the mobile phone number of a supplier operating from Sion.
Police said Gajbhiye was nabbed for peddling narcotics in the past too. Sources stated the addicts had started peddling drugs to raise money to afford this costly addiction. “After the Mumbai cruise case, many goons like Khare are planning to sell MD,” said an officer connected to the probe.
