MCOCA invoked against drug syndicate after major operation leads to recovery of contraband & valuables worth over Rs 18 lakh

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The city police have invoked stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a drug syndicate, allegedly headed by Sheikh Ashpak Sheikh Isak (also known as Patel), following a major operation that resulted in the seizure of narcotics, cash and valuables worth several lakhs of rupees.Police commissioner Pravin Pawar said the network was involved in the illegal trade of MD (mephedrone) and codeine-based cough syrups. "Given the organised nature of the operation and its extensive reach, prior approval to apply MCOCA was granted on Saturday. The accused were running a structured drug distribution network spanning multiple districts," he said.The case surfaced on Jan 28 when crime branch sub-inspector Vinayak Shelke received a tip-off that accused Sheikh Kalim Sheikh Sardar and his associates were preparing to move concealed contraband from his residence at Ravindra Colony in Shahabazar. The subsequent raid led to the recovery of 53.32g of MD worth Rs 3.19 lakh, eight cellphones, Rs 3.36 lakh in cash, and gold and silver jewellery, taking the value of the total seizure at Rs 15.07 lakh.Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Ratnakar Navale said Kalim's interrogation exposed the involvement of gang leader Ashpak and others in the trafficking network. "Further action resulted in the seizure of 756 bottles of codeine phosphate and triprolidine hydrochloride syrup worth Rs 3.02 lakh from the wife of co-accused Avinash Pachunde," he said.During custody, Kalim revealed that he sourced drugs from several suppliers, including Ashpak, for onward distribution. The police later found an additional 20.69g of MD worth Rs 1.24 lakh hidden inside a sword sheath at his home, along with the weapon.Inspector (crime) Gajanan Kalyankar said the prime accused, Ashpak, had escaped to Nashik to avoid arrest. "Based on precise intelligence, our team traced him to a hotel in the Wadala Naka area and apprehended him," he said.The officer said investigations showed that Ashpak used the bank account of his associate, Ishrat Akeeb Sheikh, to route drug proceeds, with deposits exceeding Rs 45.20 lakh in the past year. The police have frozen the bank accounts of 14 individuals linked to the syndicate.The police said cases under the NDPS Act and other laws were earlier registered against members of the group at the City Chowk and Jinsi police stations, where over 10,200 bottles of codeine syrup worth Rs 52.74 lakh were seized in previous operations.Fifteen people, including Ashpak, Kalim, Avinash Pachunde and his wife, have been named in the case. Assistant commissioner of police Bhagirathi Pawar is overseeing the investigation.