Seven Nigerians arrested, drugs worth Rs 19.05 crore seized in Navi Mumbai

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A major crackdown on drug peddlers in Navi Mumbai has resulted in the arrest of seven Nigerian nationals and the seizure of drugs with an estimated worth of Rs 19.05 crore. Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe confirmed the operation, arrests and seizures.

The operation, which led to the arrests and drug seizures, was conducted through raids in residential areas located in the Kharghar locality of Navi Mumbai. According to Commissioner Bharambe, the police had received information indicating that a group of Nigerians had stockpiled drugs and was involved in their distribution, PTI reported.

The seized drugs encompassed a variety of substances, including cocaine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), and tablets containing tramadol hydrochloride, a psychotropic substance.

The seven individuals taken into custody have been charged under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which deals with offenses related to narcotics.

Also read: Navi Mumbai: Two Nigerians held with drugs worth Rs 55 lakh

Police officials are currently engaged in efforts to ascertain the origin of the seized drugs and the individuals to whom they were being sold. The investigation aims to unravel the supply chain and distribution network involved in this significant drug bust.

Sales tax inspector attempts to extort Rs 15 lakh

Meanwhile, an inspector with the state sales tax department allegedly threatened and attempted to extort Rs 15 lakh from a judge of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) tribunal in Maharashtra's Nagpur, police said on Sunday.

The police have registered a case under section 385 (extortion) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code against inspector Rajkumar Diwase of the sales tax department, and his accomplice Prakash Gaikwad, senior inspector Sanjay Mendhe of Sadar police station said.

According to the police, Ramesh Bhagu Zaid (59), a judge in the GST tribunal, allegedly received messages from Diwase recently, in which he threatened to expose the judge with the help of an RTI activist and warned about physically harming him if he did not give Rs 15 lakh.

Zaid was earlier a joint commissioner in the state sales tax department and Diwase had approached him to stall a transfer order issued to him in November last year, the official said.

When the complainant did not endorse the request, the accused started asking him for financial assistance last month, he said, adding that Zaid also received extortion calls from Gaikwad during this period.

Subsequently, the complainant discovered that the two accused were collaborating with each other in the extortion bid, the official said.

The accused were summoned to Sadar police station on Saturday in connection with the case, Mendhe said. (With inputs from PTI)