New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Eight members of an international drug syndicate have been arrested and 14.2 kg of party drug Mephedrone, popularly known as "Meow Meow", worth Rs 25 crore seized from them, Delhi Police said on Tuesday.
Those arrested are Mohammad Faizan Ahmed Supariwala, 36, a resident of Mumbai, Surender Singh aka Sunny, 34, Rishi Koli, 35, Manoj Sengar, 46, Sanjay Khanna, 43, Guddu Yadav, 33, Deepak Parashar, 38, and Mahender Singh Rana, 53, all residents of Delhi.
'Meow Meow' drug is commonly used as a substitute for cocaine, especially at rave parties in Delhi, Mumbai and other metros. Cost of one gram varies from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000, police said.
"Faizan was arrested on July 23, when he arrived in the city to receive the consignment of drugs from his gang members," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav told reporters.
Two kilograms of 'Meow Meow' was recovered from his possession. He was arrested from Greater Kailash area of south Delhi.
The remaining members of the syndicate were arrested from different areas of Delhi after interrogation of Faizan.
According to police, the gang was involved in the business for long time but seizure of a big consignment in Mumbai gave the police some clue of the drug ring, police said.
The officer also said that the gang was helped by an Inspector-rank officer in the Customs Department in Delhi.
"We seized nine kilograms of narcotics from Mahender Singh Rana. During interrogation he said that he received the drugs through a customs officer," Yadav said.
"Rana had received 21 kg of drugs from the officer, of which he had sold around 12 kg and the remaining nine kg were left with him," the DCP added.
According to police, the customs department officer has not reported for duty for the past two days and his house was also found locked.
"We have informed his office, and we are waiting for details," the DCP added.
Explaining the international connection of the syndicate, Yadav said: "The gang was operated by one of its masterminds named Kailash, who is settled in Dubai."
"He used to control the entire operation of drugs from Dubai," Yadav said, adding, "He is also wanted in a case of drugs in Mumbai."
Kailash's brother is currently lodged in jail in Mumbai in a drug smuggling case.
Yadav said that the drugs were sent to European and Gulf countries through courier and cargo.
A senior police officer related to the probe requesting anonymity told IANS: "We will soon conduct a raid in Mumbai to find out the details of Arif, whose name appeared during investigation."
According to police, Arif is a close associate of Kailash, who used to supply the drugs to European and Gulf countries through his contacts.
