Ahmedabad: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested two persons, including an Odisha native, for allegedly peddling mephedrone, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ashok alias Kajal (23) of Dhanija village in Odisha’s Ganjam district, and College alias Payal Adalat Sheikh (24) of Sandajal village in West Bengal.
They were caught red-handed at a hotel on Ashram Road with nearly 14 grams of mephedrone, zip-lock bags and a weighing machine on Friday morning only hours after arriving in Ahmedabad, TOI reported quoting SOG police inspector Vijay Joshi.
Besides mephedrone worth Rs 1.39 lakh, other valuables totalling Rs 1.55 lakh were seized from them.
He further stated that subsequent investigation revealed that the duo, who had names commonly used for both males and females, allegedly sold drugs exclusively to clients, whom they approached via gay dating apps. “They specifically sought out individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those known to consume drugs. They would initiate conversations, arrange meet-ups, and supply drugs to those who expressed interest,” Joshi explained.
The raid on the hotel was conducted following a tip-off while the SOG team was patrolling the Juhapura area.
A case has been registered against them under NDPS Act sections 8(c), 21(b), and 29. Further investigations are underway to ascertain whether the accused engaged in other illegal activities, including offering sexual services, and to trace the network behind the illicit drug trade.
