Pune Police Bust Mephedrone Trafficking Network; Seven Arrested with Drugs and Firearms
Pune, November 7, 2026: The Lonikand police have dismantled a mephedrone (MD) trafficking network operating in Pune district, arresting seven individuals and recovering 128.3 grams of the banned synthetic drug along with three country-made pistols and five live cartridges. The total value of the seized drugs, weapons, vehicles, and other items has been estimated at approximately ₹23.27 lakh .
The Three-Phase Operation
The crackdown unfolded over several days, beginning on October 29. During routine patrolling near Katkewadi Phata, police personnel received specific information about a suspect. A team led by Police Inspector Sunita Rokade detained Pratik alias Sonya Dattatray Hole, 35, a resident of Lonikand . A search of the accused yielded 19.4 grams of mephedrone, one country-made pistol, two live cartridges, a mobile phone, and a car, collectively valued at around ₹9.22 lakh. A case was immediately registered at Lonikand police station .
Questioning of Hole led investigators to two more suspects. On October 30, police arrested Vishal Shivaji Makar, 26, from Dhoksangvi in Shirur taluka, and Somnath Sanjay Gore, 24, from Handewadi in Hadapsar, near Khandobamal in Lonikand. From them, officers recovered two country-made pistols and three live cartridges, valued at ₹63,000 .
Further technical analysis and follow-up investigation resulted in a third phase of the crackdown on November 3. Police laid a trap near the old toll plaza at Perne and detained four additional accused: Vishal alias Dada Ramdas Kolte (from Bakori), Rajuram Umedram Chaudhary (from Ranjangaon in Shirur taluka), Vaibhav Balu Khedkar, and Shivam Prashant Dedge (both from Shirur). These four were found in possession of approximately 108.9 grams of mephedrone, mobile phones, and two cars, with the seized items valued at ₹13.36 lakh .
The Seizure and Investigation
The combined seizure across the three operations stands at 128.3 grams of mephedrone, three country-made pistols, five live cartridges, three vehicles, and mobile phones. Police have described the arrested individuals as history-sheeters linked to the local drug supply chain .
Investigators are now examining the financial transactions of the accused to identify both upstream suppliers and downstream distributors of the narcotic and the illegal firearms. Assistant Police Inspector Gajanan Kagane is probing the case further. The accused have been remanded to police custody for detailed interrogation .
This action comes amid heightened police vigilance in the Pune region during the festive season. Officials emphasised that the recovery of both narcotics and firearms in the same network underlines the need for continued intelligence-driven operations against organised crime .
Police have urged citizens to report any information related to drug trafficking or illegal weapons through official helplines, assuring confidentiality.
What Is Mephedrone?
Mephedrone (also known as 4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC, or “meow meow”) is a synthetic stimulant drug in the cathinone class, chemically related to amphetamines. It is illegal in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act .
Short-term effects that users seek include euphoria, increased energy and alertness, enhanced sociability, and heightened sensory perception. However, adverse effects are common: anxiety, paranoia, jaw clenching, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, and nausea. In higher doses, it can cause hallucinations, panic attacks, and severe agitation .
Severe acute risks include hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature), seizures, heart problems (including arrhythmia or cardiac arrest), and acute psychosis. Fatalities have been linked to mephedrone, usually involving high doses, polydrug use, or underlying heart conditions .
Long-term use is associated with strong psychological dependence, tolerance (needing higher doses), depression and anxiety during withdrawal, memory and concentration problems, and possible cardiovascular strain. Withdrawal is primarily psychological (cravings, low mood, fatigue, irritability) rather than a severe physical syndrome, but it can still be very difficult to overcome without professional support .
Mephedrone has a relatively narrow margin between recreational doses and doses that cause serious toxicity. Street mephedrone is often mixed with other substances, increasing the risk
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