Police to destroy 23 tonnes of drugs

THANE: Two years after the ephedrine drug case, involving former actor Mamta Kulkarni, came into light, the police along with the drug disposal team will finally commence with the disposal procedure from tomorrow.

The process will start from one of the government companies in Karegaon, Ahmednagar district.

A police officer from Thane anti-narcotics cell said, “We had seized 23 tonnes of ephedrine drugs in raids related to the case. Along with police officers, we will start the disposal of drugs from Saturday.”

On April 13, 2016, the police in Thane registered a case after arresting two men – Sagar Suresh Powale and Mayur Suresh Sukhdare – with ephedrine worth ₹12 lakh in Vartak Nagar.

Police had traced the source of the drugs to a Solapur factory.

On June 18, 2016, former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni’s name had cropped up in the case when one of the accused, Jay Mukhi, said he saw Kulkarni in a drug-trade meeting at Kenya.

Following this, police had filed a First Information Report against Kulkarni.

Deeper investigations led sleuths to the involvement of Vicky Goswami and Kenyabased international drug mafiaakasha brothers, involved in the racket.

Hundred statements have been recorded in the case and 50 people have been tested positive for ephedrine.

Till now, 14 people, including a Nigerian national have been arrested.

Five accused are still at large, including Kulkarni, who is suspected to be living abroad.