Ahmedabad: The crime branch seized an additional 329.5 grams of mephedrone during the police remand of an accused arrested in a courier-based drug trafficking case, taking the total recovery in the case to 701.10 grams, officials said.The seized synthetic drug is estimated to be worth Rs 70 lakh. The latest recovery was made following the interrogation of 32-year-old Asuram Bhadu, a native of Balotra district in Rajasthan, who was earlier arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.Bhadu was initially found with 371.5 grams of mephedrone worth around Rs 37.15 lakh. During questioning, he told investigators that he had been staying in a rented room in Adinath Nagar near SP Ring Road in Odhav.Acting on the information, crime branch teams searched the premises and recovered another 329.5 grams of mephedrone.According to crime branch officials, the accused had sourced the drugs from Rajasthan and used courier services operating from Bapunagar to transport consignments.Officials said the accused and his associates allegedly sent small quantities of drugs through certain courier agencies from Bapunagar to various locations within Gujarat and to other cities, including Bengaluru. Investigators said the network relied on small courier parcels to avoid detection, taking advantage of the difficulty in checking every package.Police said the accused coordinated orders and deliveries through phone calls and messaging applications. Investigators are now trying to identify others involved in the supply and distribution network.
