Kalyan police dismantled a major drug syndicate, seizing a large quantity of heroin and arresting five individuals, including a key interstate supplier, in a significant crackdown on drug trafficking.
Kalyan police in the district have busted a drug syndicate with the seizure of 9.7 kg of heroin valued at Rs 34.18 crore and arrested five persons including a notorious interstate supplier, officials said on Friday.
Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Jadhav said the Kalyan Anti-Narcotics Action Team conducted several raids during the operation that went on for several weeks.
On April 1, a team led by sub-inspector Anil Gaikwad intercepted Qasim Abdul Sattar Vasaikar (38), resident of Shahapur, and Krishna Nagappa Halemani (36) on Sanglewadi road. A search of their backpacks led to the recovery of 9.2 kg of heroin and cash.
A search at Vasaikar's residence yielded an additional 531.69 grams of heroin.
Following up on leads, Ganesan Puthuswami Jangmar alias Anna (71) was arrested from Mumbai on April 5, and Saddam Gafur Sheikh (32) was held from Kalyan on April 6.
The biggest breakthrough came on May 21, when the anti-narcotics squad tracked down and arrested the kingpin and main supplier, Amjad Yusuf Pathan (47), from Igatpuri in Nashik district, said DCP Atul Zende.
Pathan faces 20 major cases registered across Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Vasaikar is named in three offences, while Saddam Sheikh has seven cases registered against him.
Further investigation into the cross-border links of the syndicate is underway, the officials said.