By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai : Mumbai Police have taken the first-ever action under the newly amended Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against a narcotics trafficking syndicate. This marks a historic step in the state’s fight against the drug menace.
On July 10, 2025, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly approved amendments to MCOCA, and the government published the notification in the state gazette on July 30, 2025. The revised Act provides stronger legal provisions to dismantle organised criminal networks involved in drug production, distribution, and trafficking.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already made it clear that his government will take uncompromising action not only against drug traffickers but also against any police officials found colluding with them. Following a major reshuffle in the Mumbai Police force, the crucial responsibility of leading the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) was handed over to DCP Navnath Dhavle, who has been spearheading a series of operations to expose drug cartels in the city.
In a significant breakthrough, the Bandra Unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, Crime Branch, seized 766 grams of Mephedrone (MD) on August 7, 2025 in connection with Crime Register No. 61/2025 under Sections 8(c) and 22(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985. Investigation revealed that the main accused, along with two associates, had formed an organised syndicate and were actively involved in large-scale drug trafficking.
Given the organised nature of the crime, a proposal was submitted to apply MCOCA. Senior authorities approved the proposal, and charges under Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), and 3(4) of the Act were added. This officially became the first-ever case in Maharashtra where the amended MCOCA has been invoked against a drug trafficking gang.
The landmark action was executed under the overall guidance of Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam, and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shailesh Balkawade. The operation was directly supervised by DCP Navnath Dhavle, head of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, along with ACP Sudhir Hirdekar and PI Vishal Chandanshive with his dedicated team from the Bandra ANC Unit.
This decisive move sets a strong precedent in Maharashtra’s war against drugs, reinforcing the state’s commitment to eliminating organised narcotics syndicates.
