Mumbai ANC seizes ₹2.04 crore mephedrone, arrests two in Chembur
Synopsis
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell netted two men carrying a combined 681 grams of mephedrone worth over ₹2 crore in a single late-night patrol near Chembur — the latest in a string of ANC operations that have targeted mephedrone networks from South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in 2025.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) seized 681 grams of mephedrone worth ₹2,04,30,000 near MHADA Colony Road, Chembur on 4 August 2025 .
Two men, aged 33 and 38 , were arrested; the younger carried 333 grams and the elder 348 grams .
A case was registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
On 16 July , the Navi Mumbai ANC arrested six people in an alleged international cartel bust, seizing drugs worth ₹1.4 crore .
On 26 May , a South Mumbai flat raid uncovered a mephedrone manufacturing unit with contraband and raw materials worth over ₹50 crore .
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) arrested two men and seized 681 grams of mephedrone (MD) worth approximately ₹2.04 crore following a late-night patrol operation in Chembur on 4 August 2025. The accused were formally arrested the following day, with a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
How the Arrest Unfolded
According to the ANC, officers intercepted the two men at approximately 10:30 pm near MHADA Colony Road, Chembur. The first accused, aged 33, was found carrying 333 grams of mephedrone, while the second, aged 38, was in possession of 348 grams. The combined street value of the seized contraband was estimated at ₹2,04,30,000.
As mandated under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a spot panchnama was conducted with videography at the scene. A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. Further investigation is underway.
Pattern of ANC Operations in Mumbai
This arrest is the latest in a series of significant drug seizures by the ANC across Mumbai and its satellite cities. On 16 July, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch dismantled an alleged international drugs cartel, arresting six people from various parts of the state and seizing approximately 1,307 grams of hydro ganja and 5 grams of cocaine collectively valued at ₹1.4 crore.
Earlier, on 26 May, a raid on a residential flat in Agripada, South Mumbai yielded one of the larger hauls in recent memory. Acting on intelligence gathered by the Kandivli unit of the ANC, officers searched flat number 1004 on the 10th floor of Yasmeen Tower and uncovered a mephedrone manufacturing setup, along with raw materials valued at more than ₹50 crore. A country-made pistol and 19 live cartridges were also recovered from the premises. Three persons were arrested in that operation.
What the Law Says
Mephedrone is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, making its possession, sale, or manufacture a serious criminal offence. Conviction under Section 22(c) — which covers commercial-quantity psychotropic substances — carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and can extend to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a substantial fine.
What Comes Next
Investigators are expected to trace the supply chain to identify distributors and the source of the contraband. The repeat incidence of mephedrone seizures across Mumbai's eastern suburbs and South Mumbai suggests an active distribution network that authorities are working to dismantle.
Point of View
Navi Mumbai in July, Chembur in August — point to a supply chain that is active, distributed, and resilient to individual arrests. The Agripada bust exposed a manufacturing setup, yet street-level distribution appears uninterrupted. The ANC's patrol-based interceptions are tactically sound but strategically limited: without dismantling the upstream supply network, each seizure risks being replaced within days. The use of BNSS-mandated videography is a procedural improvement, but the real accountability test is whether investigators can convert contraband recoveries into prosecutable cases that reach conviction under the NDPS Act's stringent commercial-quantity provisions.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Mumbai ANC drug bust on 4 August 2025?
The Anti-Narcotics Cell seized 681 grams of mephedrone (MD) with an estimated market value of ₹2,04,30,000 near MHADA Colony Road in Chembur, Mumbai. Two men aged 33 and 38 were arrested during a routine patrol at around 10:30 pm.
What charges have been filed against the two accused?
A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Section 22(c) covers commercial-quantity psychotropic substances and carries a minimum sentence of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Is this an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern?
It is part of a broader pattern. The Mumbai ANC has recorded at least three significant mephedrone-related operations since May 2025, including a ₹50 crore manufacturing bust in Agripada on 26 May and an international cartel case in Navi Mumbai on 16 July.
What is mephedrone and why is it illegal in India?
Mephedrone, commonly called MD, is a synthetic psychotropic stimulant classified as a controlled substance under the NDPS Act, 1985. Its possession, sale, or manufacture is a criminal offence, with commercial-quantity cases attracting sentences of up to 20 years.
What happens next in the investigation?
Further investigation is underway, according to the ANC. Investigators are expected to trace the supply chain to identify distributors and the source of the seized mephedrone. The spot panchnama was recorded with videography as required under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
