The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Sunday, 21 June arrested two spa operators after recovering more than 150 grams of mephedrone (MD) from a commercial premises in the Vastral area of Ahmedabad, with officers stating the seized narcotics carry an estimated street value of over ₹15 lakh. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at the DCB Police Station.

The Raid and Seizure

Acting on specific intelligence, a Crime Branch team raided Shop No. H/504, Suryam Elegance, near Silver Habitat behind Madhav Farm in the Vastral locality. The two accused were allegedly found in possession of a commercial quantity of the synthetic drug without any authorisation or permit.

Alongside the mephedrone, officers recovered three mobile phones, weighing scales, empty zipper bags allegedly used for packaging, cash, and identity documents — items investigators say point to an organised distribution setup.

Who Was Arrested

The arrested individuals have been identified as Tejaskumar alias Montu Thakkar, 38, and Ajay alias Ajju Jaiswal, 42, both operating spa-related businesses in the area. Both have prior criminal records.

Thakkar had previously been booked at Odhav Police Station, including under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and faced preventive action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Jaiswal has multiple prior cases registered across Sarkhej, Vatva GIDC, and Bapunagar police stations under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Gujarat Police Act.

The Alleged Supply Chain

According to investigators, the accused were allegedly sourcing the contraband from Balotra in Rajasthan and distributing it through spa establishments in Ahmedabad. Officials noted this as a notable instance in which spa operators themselves were allegedly involved in directly ordering and retailing narcotics from within their business premises — using the establishments as a cover to offer drugs to customers on request.

Police have also identified a wanted accused, Pawan Sharma, in connection with the case. Further investigation is underway to map the wider network and trace financial links.

What Officials Said

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ajit Rajian said the operation was conducted under the guidance of senior state police leadership as part of sustained enforcement against drug-related offences. The raid was carried out by Squad No. 6, led by Inspector Imran Ghasura and Sub-Inspector J.C. Desai.

'The Crime Branch has been actively targeting both small- and large-scale narcotics networks, and the present seizure was part of a specialised operation,' DCP Rajian said. He added: 'This is among the first instances where spa operators have been found directly involved in the procurement and retail distribution of narcotics within their establishments.'

Wider Context

The bust is part of ongoing enforcement efforts against narcotics trafficking in Ahmedabad, a city that authorities say has seen a rise in synthetic drug distribution through unconventional retail fronts. Mephedrone, a Class A synthetic stimulant, has increasingly featured in urban drug seizures across Gujarat in recent years. The Rajasthan–Gujarat supply corridor, with Balotra cited as a sourcing hub in this case, has previously surfaced in other NDPS investigations in the region.