The crime branch of Navi Mumbai police arrested four persons and seized banned gutkha and pan masala worth Rs 35.5 lakh from Rabale on Thursday. The police also busted a racket that used to supply gutkha in states where it is banned.
Police said that more people involved in the racket, however, four of them have already been arrested.
Acting on a tip-off, the central unit of Crime Branch and Anti Narcotic cell of Navi Mumbai police laid a trap near Silver Key hotel in Rabale MIDC area and caught three vehicles laden with gutkha and pan masala. “The consignment was coming from Gujarat and it was supposed to be distributed in different pan shops across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai,” said Bipin Kumar Singh, commissioner of police.
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The arrested have been identified as Jitendra Das (26), Akheya Budhdev Khonda (22), Priyavat Das (29) and Munna Yadav (28) all are residents of Koparkhairane.
A case has been registered against them at Rabale MIDC police under sections 188, 272, 273, 328, and 34 of IPC and sections 2,3, and 4 of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011, along with other food safety act.
FPJ Photo
Police commissioner Singh said that they are doing every possible step to ensure that drugs do not enter in the city. “It is a focus of Navi Mumbai police to take strict action against illegal trade of contraband. We are working with the Food and Drugs administration to root out sale of contraband from the city,” said Singh.
