New Delhi: A former air hostess and her alleged associate have been arrested after police intercepted their car on the Vadodara–Mumbai route and seized drugs worth around ₹30 lakh.
The case came to light on Monday after the Surat Crime Branch received information that a large quantity of MD, or mephedrone, was being carried towards Mumbai in a car. Acting on the tip-off, a police team stopped a vehicle near a toll plaza on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 977 grams of the drug. The occupants were identified as 41-year-old Mansi Sayed, a former air hostess, and Sohail Suleman Shaikh, 20. Police also seized several mobile phones, along with plastic bags and containers allegedly meant for packing the contraband.
Both suspects were taken into custody following the seizure.
During questioning, the accused reportedly told investigators that they had hired the car in Mumbai before travelling to Vadodara to collect the consignment. They allegedly received the drugs from an unidentified woman near Vadodara railway station, as reported by NDTV.
Investigators suspect the consignment was meant to be transported to Mumbai, where it would have been divided into smaller packets weighing between five and 10 grams. These packets were allegedly to be sold to customers according to their requirements.
Police said Sayed and Shaikh lived in Mumbai’s Santacruz area and had known each other for several years.
Former Air Hostess Under Scanner
The investigation has also brought attention to Sayed’s alleged links with drug networks. Officials said she had earlier worked as an air hostess for Malaysian Airlines and had travelled to several countries during her career.
According to the police, Sayed had been associated with a drug-trafficking network since 2015. She was allegedly arrested in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore in 2021 after being found with nearly 100 grams of drugs.
Sayed reportedly spent almost four years in connection with that case. During the investigation, police allegedly discovered her links with drug suppliers operating in different parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Officials are now examining whether her previous contacts are connected to the latest consignment. They are also trying to identify and trace the woman who allegedly handed over the drugs to Sayed and Shaikh near Vadodara railway station.