Kalyan Drug Kingpin Held Under MCOCA

Thane Police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against alleged interstate drug kingpin Amjad Yusuf Pathan and four members of his gang. This drastic measure follows the seizure of heroin worth ₹34.18 crore in Kalyan. The case, initially registered under the NDPS Act on May 1, led to the arrest of Pathan, alongside Qasim Wasaikar, Krishna Nagappa Hallemani, Ganeshan Jangam, and Saddam Sheikh.

During the investigation, police confiscated 9.768kg of heroin, cash, and mobile phones. Further inquiries revealed Pathan's alleged role in sourcing and smuggling the substantial quantity of contraband. Pathan, who has approximately 20 criminal cases registered against him across multiple states, has a history of serious offenses, including murder and drug-related activities.

Pathan and his brothers reportedly operated an interstate drug network from Kalyan, known as the 'Pathan gang,' with supply chains extending to several Indian states and potential international links. Following a proposal to apply MCOCA, authorities sanctioned the action. Pathan, Wasaikar, and Hallemani, already in custody, were re-arrested and remanded to police custody until September 17 by a Special MCOCA Court in Thane.

This operation is part of a broader effort by Thane Police, led by DCP Atul Zende, to combat organized drug trafficking. In the past year, MCOCA has been invoked against three major drug syndicates with national reach, aiming to prevent early releases of traffickers and dismantle their operations.