Mumbai ANC arrests 2 more in ₹50.74 crore MD drug case, total held rises to 6
Synopsis
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell didn't just make two more arrests — it pulled out 210 kg of a controlled precursor chemical from a single operation, signalling a drug syndicate with serious manufacturing capacity. With six people now in custody and a ₹50.74 crore case on the books, investigators are chasing the supply chain, the financiers, and possible inter-state links.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai ANC Kandivali Unit arrested two accused on 11 July 2026 at around 4:30 am in the Wadi Bunder area.
Total arrests in the ₹50.74 crore MD drug case now stand at six .
Police seized 210 kg of liquid 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone , a controlled precursor chemical used to manufacture Mephedrone (MD) .
The case is registered under Sections 8(c) , 22(c) , and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 .
Investigators suspect an organised MD syndicate with possible inter-state links ; supply chain and financial transactions are under probe.
A separate ANC operation on 27 June in Goregaon had seized 750 grams of heroin worth ₹3.75 crore and led to one arrest.
Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Kandivali Unit, arrested two more accused in a major commercial Mephedrone (MD) drug case on 11 July 2026, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to six. The predawn operation, carried out at around 4:30 am in the Wadi Bunder area, also led to the seizure of 210 kg of liquid 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone — a regulated precursor chemical used in the illicit manufacture of MD drugs.
How the Arrests Were Made
Acting on credible intelligence received on 10 July, the ANC Kandivali Unit laid a trap in Wadi Bunder after learning that a consignment of liquid MD was likely to be supplied there. Officers intercepted the two suspects — aged 32 and 27, both residents of Pydhuni, Mumbai — and recovered the 210 kg precursor chemical from their possession.
The arrests were registered under C.R. No. 54/2026, invoking Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and are linked to Agripada Police Station C.R. No. 253/2026.
Scale of the Drug Syndicate
The latest arrests are connected to an earlier ANC operation in which investigators had already recovered 14 kg of MD and liquid MD valued at over ₹50.74 crore. With six people now in custody, investigators suspect an organised MD drug syndicate is operating in Mumbai, with possible links extending to other states.
Police are currently probing the syndicate's supply chain, financial transactions, and the network behind the procurement and distribution of precursor chemicals and narcotics. Notably, 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone is a controlled substance under Indian law precisely because of its role as a key raw material in MD production — its seizure in such volume points to a manufacturing operation of significant scale.
Earlier ANC Operations in Context
This is not the first major anti-narcotics strike by the ANC's Kandivali Unit in recent weeks. On 27 June, the unit conducted a separate operation in Goregaon, seizing 750 grams of heroin worth approximately ₹3.75 crore and arresting one accused, identified as Subhan Imran Gada. Investigators are examining whether that case has links to an interstate or international trafficking network.
The back-to-back operations suggest a sustained intelligence-led push by the ANC against drug supply networks operating across Mumbai's northern suburbs.
What Investigators Are Probing Next
Authorities are now focused on tracing the origin of the precursor chemicals and identifying upstream suppliers and financiers within the syndicate. The scale of the precursor seizure — 210 kg of liquid chemical in a single haul — indicates the syndicate may have been capable of producing MD in bulk quantities. Further investigation is underway, according to police.
Point of View
And precursor availability is the chokepoint. That the syndicate had this volume in circulation suggests organised procurement, likely across state lines, and possibly with chemical industry cover. Six arrests are a start, but the ANC's stated focus on financial transactions and supply chain mapping will determine whether this case dismantles the network or merely clips its edges.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ₹50.74 crore MD drug case in Mumbai?
It is a major commercial Mephedrone (MD) drug case being investigated by the Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Kandivali Unit. The case involves the recovery of 14 kg of MD and liquid MD valued at over ₹50.74 crore, with six people arrested as of 11 July 2026.
What is 2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone and why was its seizure significant?
2-Bromo-4-Methylpropiophenone is a regulated precursor chemical used in the illegal manufacture of Mephedrone (MD). The seizure of 210 kg of this substance in a single operation indicates the syndicate had the capacity to produce MD in substantial quantities.
Who were the two accused arrested on 11 July 2026?
The two accused, aged 32 and 27, are residents of Pydhuni in Mumbai. They were arrested at around 4:30 am following an intelligence-based operation in the Wadi Bunder area.
How many people have been arrested in this drug case so far?
As of 11 July 2026, a total of six people have been arrested in connection with this MD drug case, following the latest arrests by the ANC Kandivali Unit.
Is this case linked to other drug operations by the Mumbai ANC?
The MD case is a separate investigation, though it reflects a broader pattern of ANC activity. On 27 June, the ANC conducted another operation in Goregaon, seizing 750 grams of heroin worth ₹3.75 crore and arresting one accused, Subhan Imran Gada. Investigators are examining potential inter-state or international links in both cases.
