In what could be the first major drug haul of liquid mephedrone seized by the Mumbai police, a chemical drug factory was busted by the Amboli police. A total of 75 litres of liquid mephedrone, worth Rs 7.5 crore, has been seized. The company allegedly produced the drug illegally at a factory located in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in Badlapur. The unit has been sealed.

According to the police, the alleged druglord Narayanbhai Patel, 74, was arrested in 2009 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for possession of banned narcotics. The Amboli police had first arrested Shahid Hussain Shah, 27, from Amboli and was found in possession of 300 grams of Mephedrone in the powder form. Further investigations led the police team to Shree Sharda Chemicals at Badlapur.

"We have found 75 litres of liquid mephedrone filled and packed inside the factory. The documents shown by the factory owner Patel did not have any permissions for manufacturing of the drug. The entire factory is illegal and we have sealed it for further investigations," said Amboli police officer.

"The drug, which was produced in the factory in liquid form, will be processed further to be sold in various states in powder form," said the officer.

Daya Nayak, Police Sub Inspector of Amboli police station, said: "We have arrested both the accused under The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and they have been remanded into police custody up to April 17, after producing them before the court."

"They have been involved in producing large quantity of drugs and we are investigating the quantity of drug produced in the chemical factory. This would bring down the peddling of drugs in the city," said Nayak.