Ahmedabad mephedrone bust: Businessman held after drug parcel seized via Porter app
Synopsis
A 27-year-old Ahmedabad businessman was arrested after police intercepted a Porter app delivery parcel containing 0.77 grams of mephedrone — allegedly part of a layered distribution scheme that used a third-party phone number and an intermediary to obscure the supply chain. The case spotlights delivery platforms as an emerging last-mile route for synthetic drug trafficking in Gujarat.
Key Takeaways
Priyang Sanghvi (27), a businessman from Sabarmati, Ahmedabad , was arrested by Naroda police on 21 October 2026 .
0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone worth ₹1,540 was seized from a Porter app delivery parcel near Nana Chiloda Circle .
The substance was confirmed as mephedrone by an FSL officer in the presence of panch witnesses.
Charges were filed under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the NDPS Act against three unidentified mobile-number holders; Sanghvi was traced and arrested during the investigation.
The alleged scheme involved using a third-party phone number to log into the app and routing the drug through an intermediary for distribution.
Further forensic examination is underway; additional arrests have not been ruled out.
A 27-year-old businessman, identified as Priyang Sanghvi, was arrested by Naroda police in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, after 0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone — valued at ₹1,540 — was recovered from a parcel being delivered through the Porter logistics application near Nana Chiloda Circle. The case marks one of the first documented instances in Gujarat of a synthetic drug allegedly being routed through an on-demand parcel delivery platform.
How the Operation Unfolded
The sequence began when police received a control-room alert flagging a suspicious parcel scheduled for delivery via the Porter application. Acting on the tip, officers intercepted the consignment and subjected the substance to a preliminary examination by a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officer in the presence of panch witnesses, who confirmed the material was mephedrone — a Schedule I synthetic stimulant under Indian law.
An offence was initially registered against three unidentified mobile phone holders under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Subsequent investigation traced the order back to Sanghvi, who was thereafter detained and formally arrested.
Accused Profile and Alleged Modus Operandi
Sanghvi, a resident of Aram Park Flats in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad, is originally from Shirodi village in Rajasthan's Sirohi district. According to police, the alleged scheme involved logging into the Porter application using a mobile number belonging to a third-party witness, thereby obscuring the true identity of the consignor.
Drug packages were reportedly packed separately in zipper bags before being dispatched through the delivery service. An intermediary was allegedly deployed to receive and then distribute the substance to individual buyers — a layered supply chain designed to insulate the principal from direct exposure.
Supervision and Legal Action
Officials confirmed that the operation was carried out by Naroda police personnel under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector B M Katariya, and was part of a broader directive from senior officers to clamp down on the illegal sale and transportation of narcotics. The 0.77 grams of mephedrone and its packaging have been seized as material evidence.
Charges under the NDPS Act carry stringent bail conditions and can attract rigorous imprisonment. The three unidentified phone-number holders remain under investigation.
Broader Context
Mephedrone — colloquially known as 'meow meow' — has emerged as an increasingly popular synthetic drug in urban Gujarat, with several seizures recorded across Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara in recent years. Investigators have previously flagged the use of food and parcel delivery platforms as an evolving vector for last-mile drug distribution, raising questions about verification protocols at logistics companies. This case adds weight to those concerns.
Further forensic examination of the seized substance is currently underway, and police have not ruled out additional arrests as the probe widens.
Point of View
Routing the login through a third-party SIM and insulating the principal via an intermediary, reflects a sophistication well beyond the value of the haul. Gujarat police have consistently reported synthetic drug seizures rising in Ahmedabad's urban corridors, yet logistics platforms have faced little regulatory pressure to implement consignment-level identity verification. If this model scales, the ₹1,540 parcel today is a proof-of-concept for much larger shipments tomorrow.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drug was found in the Ahmedabad Porter app parcel?
The parcel contained 0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant classified under Schedule I of the NDPS Act. A preliminary FSL examination in the presence of panch witnesses confirmed the substance.
Who was arrested in the Ahmedabad mephedrone case?
Priyang Sanghvi , a 27-year-old businessman residing in Aram Park Flats, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, was arrested. He is originally from Shirodi village in Rajasthan's Sirohi district.
How did police detect the suspicious parcel?
Naroda police received a control-room alert about a suspicious parcel scheduled for delivery via the Porter application near Nana Chiloda Circle. Officers intercepted it and arranged an on-site FSL examination.
What was the alleged method used to smuggle the drug?
According to police, the accused allegedly logged into the Porter app using a mobile number belonging to a third-party witness. The drug was packed in zipper bags and dispatched through the platform, with an intermediary distributing it to buyers.
What charges have been filed and what happens next?
An offence was registered under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the NDPS Act against three unidentified phone-number holders; Sanghvi was formally arrested after being traced during the investigation. Further forensic examination is ongoing and police have not ruled out additional arrests.
