Mumbai: Ghanaian Woman Arrested In Nalasopara For Cooking Mephedrone Drug At Home; ₹5.6 Crore Worth Of Raw Material Seized

Mumbai: A 26-year-old woman from Ghana was arrested in Nalasopara East on Friday after police discovered she was manufacturing mephedrone (MD) inside her residence. The arrest led to the seizure of raw materials worth Rs 5.6 crore, raising alarm over the scale of the illegal drug operation being run from a residential chawl.

The incident took place during a routine drive by Tulinj police to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the locality. According to a Hindustan Times report, teams led by inspectors Vijay Jadhav and Rahul Phad were checking passports and visas of foreign nationals living in the area.

When they reached Pragati Nagar in Nalasopara East, they were informed that two foreigners were residing in a corner room of a chawl. Upon entering the premises, the officers found a woman inside and during preliminary questioning, it became evident she was in the process of preparing mephedrone, a synthetic drug banned under Indian law.

The woman identified herself as Rita Fati Kurebewei, a Ghanaian national. While police were questioning her, her male friend, Henryuchenna Uwakwe, who was also believed to be involved in the operation, fled the scene after sensing police presence. Authorities later confirmed that Rita did not possess a valid visa or documentation permitting her stay in India.

Raw Material Worth Crores Seized

Inside the room, officers found a huge amount of chemical substances and equipment used for synthesizing mephedrone. The total value of the seized raw material was estimated at Rs 5.6 crore, pointing to a potentially large-scale drug operation that may have extended beyond the local area. Investigations are now underway to determine the source of the materials and whether the accused had links to any broader narcotics network operating in or outside India.

Rita has been booked under multiple provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including those that pertain to the prohibition of manufacturing drugs, contraventions related to psychotropic substances, and criminal conspiracy. Her arrest has prompted law enforcement agencies to increase surveillance in the region and initiate further inspections of foreign nationals residing in the area. Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for Uwakwe, who remains on the run.