Nagpur: A drug module was busted in Bhandewadi police limits on Monday and a gangster, who turned to narcotics trade for quick money was arrested with 52gm of mephedrone (MD) powder, 2.29 lakh in cash and other items pegged at 9 lakh. The operation was led by anti-narcotics squad, who pointed to an alarming trend of goons with backgrounds in murder, dacoity and serious crime shifting to narcotics trade due to surge in demand for MD at pubs, lounges and rave parties.Acting on a tip-off, the NDPS team raided Sangharsh Nagar near Wathoda Ring Road, where the accused were found in suspicious circumstances, leading to their detention and search in the presence of two panch witnesses. Within minutes the contraband was recovered.Arrested accused include Vijay Rahangdale, 43, a gangster with murder, robbery and NDPS cases in his crime sheet, and Shahbaz Shah of Gittikhadan. The third accused is on the run. Preliminary investigation revealed Vijay procured the MD and was handing it over to Shahbaz, when they were ambushed by cops. A case has been registered at Bhandewadi Police Station under NDPS Act.Senior PI Gajanan Gulhane led the operation under DCP Deepak Aggarwal, joint CP Navinchandra Reddy and CP Ravinder Singal. The accused are being interrogated to trace supply chain and expose other members of the cartel.DCP Aggarwal said, “We will smash the narco mafia in the city,” he said as crime branch ramps up raids and surveillance to dismantle supply networks, protect youth from this growing menace and prevent infiltration of gangsters into the narcotics trade.
