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By:

Dr. Abhilash Dawre

19 March 2025 at 5:18:41 pm

Rs 27 crore worth narcotics seized; inter-state cartel uncovered

Thane : In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, Mumbra police have seized a massive stockpile of mefedrone valued at approximately 27.21 crore. Acting on critical intelligence, the Narcotics Control Unit conducted a special operation extending as far as Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the arrest of five key drug traffickers involved in supplying large quantities of mefedrone to the Thane region.   The operation was led by Assistant Police Inspector Rohit Kedar and Ganesh Jadhav under...

Rs 27 crore worth narcotics seized; inter-state cartel uncovered

Thane : In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, Mumbra police have seized a massive stockpile of mefedrone valued at approximately 27.21 crore. Acting on critical intelligence, the Narcotics Control Unit conducted a special operation extending as far as Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the arrest of five key drug traffickers involved in supplying large quantities of mefedrone to the Thane region.   The operation was led by Assistant Police Inspector Rohit Kedar and Ganesh Jadhav under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Anil Shinde. The initial seizure took place near Bilal Hospital, where suspect Basu Sayyed was caught with 23.5 grams of mefedrone. Further interrogation revealed a large-scale supply chain sourcing drugs from Madhya Pradesh.   Subsequently, police arrested Ramsingh Gujjar and Kailas Balai, recovering an additional 3.515 kilograms of mefedrone from their possession. Investigations traced the supply back to two major traffickers Manohar Gurjar and Raju Mansuri based in Madhya Pradesh.   The Mumbra police team then traveled to Madhya Pradesh, arresting both Gurjar and Mansuri and confiscating a staggering 9.956 kilograms of mefedrone from them.   In total, the operation resulted in the seizure of 13.6295 kilograms of mefedrone, with a street value exceeding 27.21 crore. All five accused have been taken into custody.   According to police sources, the arrested individuals have prior records involving serious offenses under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Indian Penal Code, and Arms Act. They were engaged in trafficking mefedrone in bulk quantities from Madhya Pradesh to the Thane region.   This successful operation was carried out under the guidance of ACP Priya Damale (Kalwa Division), Senior Police Inspector Anil Shinde, Crime Inspector Sharad Kumbhar, and supported by the NDPS unit officers and staff of Mumbra Police Station.   Since January this year, Mumbra police’s NDPS unit has conducted 954 seizures and 58 raids, confiscating narcotics worth over 48 crore, significantly impacting drug trafficking activities in the area.

‘Ten pc people have shifted to eco-friendly Ganesh idols’

Mana Shah, a Mumbaikar, began her professional journey at the age of 16 working alongside her father in their family business. In 2006, she came across a documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, presented by former US Vice President Al Gore. The film opened her eyes to the pressing issue of climate change and highlighted just how little action people were taking. Shah changed her path from there. As a mother of two, she felt a strong urge to step up in the issue of climate change. This led her to develop ideas for ‘Green Practices’, a venture where she could channel her entrepreneurial acumen to promote a sustainable future for upcoming generations. Today, her company is also making big profit apart from working for the environment protection. In a conversation with ‘The Perfect Voice’, Shah shares her ideas behind eco-friendly Ganesh idols and the business around it. Excerpts…


Why did you choose to start making eco-friendly Ganpati idols? What inspired you?

When I started, nearly two lakh households in Mumbai were bringing home Ganesh idols made from PoP and painted with harmful, lead-based colours. Every year, during visarjan, we would see the devastating impact in the form of dead fish, polluted waters, and broken idols scattered across the shore. It was heartbreaking. I felt compelled to ask: if Ganpati is returning to his mother, why are we sending him back in a way that harms Mother Earth? We pray to him with so much devotion, but then let his remains pollute the very waters he came from. So I thought, why not offer a more respectful, meaningful way to bring Bappa home and send him off without causing damage? That’s how the idea of eco-friendly Ganpati idols was born. It was an attempt to make sustainability an integral part of how we celebrate without losing the essence of tradition.


How are your customers reacting to eco-friendly Ganesh idols?

People love them! In the beginning, there was hesitation. Many were concerned about the fragility of clay idols or whether they would break easily. There are strong beliefs tied to idol-breaking, so PoP seemed like the safer choice to them. But once they saw how beautiful, sturdy, and detailed the eco-friendly idols could be, and that they dissolve without harming the environment, they were convinced. And once they switch, they rarely go back. Some of our customers have been coming to us every single year for the last 10–12 years. They also love the fact that visarjan can be done at home in a clean, respectful way.


What is the demand like for eco-friendly Ganesh idols today?

The demand has grown significantly. When we started, we made just 50 idols. Today, we’re crossing the 3,000 mark. That tells you how much the mindset is changing. Ganeshotsav is an emotional, deeply personal festival, especially in Mumbai. More and more people are looking for ways to celebrate that are kinder to the planet. Once they discover that eco-friendly options don’t mean compromising on beauty or tradition, they’re eager to make the switch.

Do you have any idea of the current market size of eco-friendly Ganesh idols specifically in Mumbai?

Currently, around 2 lakh families in Mumbai bring Ganesh idols home each year. Of these, I’d say about 10 per cent have made the shift to eco-friendly idols. That’s a start, but we still have a long way to go. There’s a growing awareness, and we’re optimistic.


Where do you source your idols from? Do you make the idols yourself or collaborate with others?

Most of the idols are handcrafted in our own workshops. But we also work closely with artisans across Maharashtra, for example, those who specialise in paper mache Ganpati idols. Our goal is to offer a variety of eco-friendly options that suit different households and preferences. The paper mache idols are especially popular among families living abroad, as they’re lightweight, durable, and easy to ship. This way, even those far from home can celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with the same emotion and reverence.

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