The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch made a significant drug bust on Monday, arresting a young married couple from their rented accommodation in the Vadaj area. The duo was allegedly attempting to deliver a substantial quantity of the synthetic drug mephedrone.
From Job Search to Drug Trade: A Couple's Downfall
Police identified the accused as Kamlesh Bishnoi (28) and his wife Rajeshwari Bishnoi (24), originally from Jalore district in Rajasthan. Investigators revealed a tragic turn of events leading to their arrest. Rajeshwari, despite completing her Bachelor of Education (BEd), was unable to secure a teaching job. This professional frustration, according to senior officials, pushed the graduate couple towards the illicit drug trade as a means of income.
Details of the Seizure and Modus Operandi
Acting on intelligence, the police team raided their house near Akhbarnagar Circle. The raid led to the recovery of 357.75 grams of mephedrone, valued at approximately Rs 35.77 lakh. Additionally, authorities seized Rs 22,800 in cash, two mobile phones, a battery-operated weighing scale, 53 transparent plastic zipper bags, and documents including Aadhaar card copies and an electricity bill. The total value of the seizure was pegged at Rs 36.40 lakh.
An offence was registered under the stringent Sections 8(C), 22(C), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police disclosed that the couple had been involved in selling small quantities of banned substances to local customers for about three months. Their foray into larger smuggling was recent. A few days prior to the arrest, Rajeshwari had visited her parental home in Sanchore, Rajasthan. There, a relative allegedly connected to drug suppliers gave her a consignment of mephedrone that originated from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She transported this packet to Ahmedabad, while the main supplier retained the remaining stock in Rajasthan.
Investigation Expands to Unravel Network
"They claim this was their first attempt at smuggling mephedrone, though they had earlier dealt in prohibited cigarettes. Their involvement came to light as soon as they tried their hands at this psychotropic substance," a senior police officer stated. The couple reportedly has no prior criminal record.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch is now intensifying its efforts to trace the Uttar Pradesh-based supplier and map the entire network used to route the contraband to the city. The investigation aims to dismantle the supply chain that recruited the struggling graduates into a life of crime.
