Overview
- DRI’s August 16 Crystal Break raid at Jagdishpur near Bhopal seized 61.20 kg of liquid mephedrone, over 541 kg of chemicals and processing machines worth about Rs 92 crore.
- Seven suspects, including a woman, have been arrested across multiple states and were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody by a Bhopal court.
- Investigators allege the network was overseen by Salim ‘Dola’ Ismail, believed to be operating from Turkey, with his nephew Mustafa Kubbawala under an Interpol Red Corner Notice.
- Banking and hawala trails show transactions worth crores moved into the accounts of operators Abdul Faisal Qureshi and Razzaq Khan to buy precursors, land and equipment while the pair drew minimal personal funds.
- Follow-up actions netted suppliers, a transporter and a Surat-based hawala facilitator, and DRI officials say the NIA may initiate a parallel probe given the cross-border dimensions.