July 13, 2025 | Dubai, UAE – One of Maharashtra’s biggest synthetic drug manufacturers and suppliers was arrested on Friday, July 11. The key suspect of this felony was accused of supplying chemicals and raw materials for the production of mephedrone (MD), a high-demand party drug valued at ₹250 crore. 

Overview Of Maharashtra’s MD Trade 

The operations were traced back to Sangli, a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The key suspect in the case was extradited from the UAE on Friday. The investigation’s success resulted from a coordinated international effort involving the Mumbai Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Interpol. Authorities believe that the accused played a central role in facilitating a cross-border narcotics supply chain.

The accused, Mustafa Mohammad Kubbawala, was a 44-year-old man who had been dealing with drugs for almost a decade. The suspect was finally brought back to Mumbai following extensive coordination with Interpol over several months. Investigations uncovered an extensive syndicate of the most recent, biggest synthetic drug trade that sprawled from the alleys of Mumbai to remote streets of Sangli, with chains extending far beyond India’s borders.

Authorities also discovered that the cartel relied heavily on angadia couriers and hawala networks to move illicit funds. The mephedrone (MD) seizure from the Sangli facility was one of the biggest synthetic drug seizures Maharashtra has seen in recent years.

First Lead Of One Among The Biggest Synthetic Drug Chain

The major uncovering of one of the biggest synthetic drug operations began in February 2024 with the arrest of Parveen Sheikh, a woman caught carrying 641 grams of mephedrone (MD). During interrogation, she confessed to acting under the direction of two Dubai-based handlers, Salim Dola and Mohammed Salim Sheikh, and their local associate, Sajid Mohammad Asif Sheikh, also known as Dabs. 

Sajid was arrested soon after, following which, a raid was carried out at a concealed drug manufacturing facility in Kavthe Mahankal, Sangli, where authorities seized 126kg of MD, valued at ₹252 crore, in March, making it one of the biggest synthetic drug trades for the drug MD. The illegal operation was reportedly run by Salim Dola and his son Taher, who were coordinating the activities from across the border.

Following this exposure, Salim’s nephew, Mustafa Mohammad Kubbawala, was named in the chargesheet, and a non-bailable warrant was issued for his arrest. Interpol, in collaboration with the National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi, later located Kubbawala in the UAE. He was taken into custody based on a Red Corner Notice (RCN), an international alert issued by Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest wanted individuals. 

Other Developments and Updates On The Case

Authorities arrested six other individuals as the investigation progressed. A major breakthrough emerged with the help of detailed digital surveillance, including analysis of GPS data, mobile activity, and rental vehicle records. Investigators identified an SUV frequently booked by Mustafa Kubbawala, which became an important lead. The vehicle had been frequently driven to Satara and Sangli, both areas linked to key drug and raw material trading. Payment confirmations, booking logs, and the car owner’s testimony confirmed Kubbawala’s ties to the biggest synthetic drug supply chain from Sangli. 

Mephedrone, central to one of the biggest synthetic drugs trafficked through Maharashtra is commonly known on the streets as “meow meow” or “M-CAT.” It surges the dopamine and serotonin levels sharply leading to high levels of excitement, joy and energy. People usually report feeling confident under the effects of MD.

The ₹250 crore expose in Sangli is part of a much larger national felony. In line with the Zero Tolerance policy against narcotics, over ₹25,000 crore worth of drugs have been seized across India in 2024, a 55% jump from the ₹16,100 crore confiscated in 2023, signalling an optimistic shift from substance abuse for the population.

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