Surat, August 25: In a significant crackdown against drug trafficking, Surat police have dismantled a major interstate MD drugs network as part of the ongoing ‘No Drugs in Surat’ campaign. The Surat Crime Branch arrested two individuals with nearly one kilogram of MD (Mephedrone) drugs. The seized 977 grams of MD is valued at over ₹3 million in the international market.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Mansi Abdul Syed and her associate, Sohel Suleman Sheikh, both residents of Santa Cruz, Mumbai. Mansi is believed to be the mastermind behind the network and previously worked as a flight attendant for Malaysia Airlines.
According to Additional Police Commissioner Karanraj Singh Vaghela, the Crime Branch received a tip-off about a woman arriving from another state to supply MD drugs near Vadodara Railway Station. Acting on this information, police began monitoring the suspects’ activities. Mansi and Sohel traveled from Mumbai to Vadodara in a rented car, where they picked up approximately one kilogram of MD drugs. They then headed back to Mumbai via Surat on the expressway. The Crime Branch, utilizing technical surveillance and human intelligence, tracked them down and conducted a joint operation with Surat Rural Police’s SP Rajesh Gadhia and the SOG team. A suspicious vehicle was intercepted near the Aina toll plaza, leading to the recovery of 977 grams of MD and the subsequent arrest of both suspects.
During police interrogation, Mansi’s previous involvement in a drug network came to light. Her father was a technician with Air India, and Mansi herself had traveled to around 8 to 10 countries. Investigations revealed that she was linked to a drug network in Madhya Pradesh before 2021.
In 2021, the Indore Crime Branch had arrested her with 100 grams of MD drugs, allegedly smuggling drugs through children’s diapers. After spending nearly four years in jail, she was released on bail from the High Court and returned to Mumbai. Police claim that for the past year and a half, she has been supplying drugs to dealers in Mumbai. Following her arrest in Surat, authorities are now probing deeper into her alleged network.
The second arrested suspect, Sohel Suleman Sheikh, is only 20 years old and is reported to be Mansi’s neighbor. Mansi’s family had played a role in Sohel’s upbringing and financial support. Investigators suggest that Mansi often presented Sohel as either her husband or brother to evade police checks, creating a familial illusion to avoid suspicion. Police are now trying to determine whether Sohel’s role was limited to delivering drugs or if he was actively involved in other aspects of the network.
Surat police have registered a case against both suspects and initiated further legal proceedings. They are currently in the process of remanding the suspects for interrogation. The primary objective of the investigation is to identify the drug supply chain and other individuals involved. Authorities are analyzing mobile phones and other devices recovered from the suspects to gather information on active drug dealers in Mumbai and related networks. If necessary, they will also coordinate with the Mumbai Crime Branch.
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