Surat: The Crime Branch on Monday apprehended three individuals suspected of drug trafficking and seized prohibited mephedrone valued at Rs 51.22 lakh from them.

Acting on a tip-off, the Surat Police Crime Branch team found the illicit substances in the suspects’ vehicle at the Bhatia toll point near NH-48. The arrested individuals, namely Gulam Sabir Mirza, Mohammed Asfak Ansari, and Rizwan Badruddin Bangdiwala, were reportedly transporting the drugs from Ilyas, also known as Ilu, in Madhya Pradesh, to deliver them to Rizwan Bombaywala in Surat.

A manhunt has been launched for Rizwan Bombaywala and Ilyas from Madhya Pradesh. The arrested trio was produced in court on Tuesday, where the police were granted remand until March 11.

It is noteworthy that Rizwan’s older brother, Siddik Bombaywala, had previously been arrested with MD worth Rs 10 lakh recovered from him. DeshGujarat