Mumbai, April 25 : Mumbaiâ??s Samta Nagar Police have arrested a man in possession of brown heroin near a public toilet in Kandivali East. The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth approximately Rs 10 lakh in the illegal market.

The accused has been identified as Vicky Vidhakar Padmukh, a resident of Kandivali East. A case has been registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and he has been taken into custody.

According to police officials, the arrest was made during a routine patrol. Officers noticed a man loitering near a public toilet in the Lokhandwala Complex area of Kandivali East. Upon spotting the police, the suspect attempted to flee, which raised suspicion. The police quickly pursued and apprehended him. A subsequent search led to the recovery of brown heroin from his possession.

The Samta Nagar Police are continuing their investigation to determine the source of the drugs and identify the intended recipients. Authorities suspect a larger network may be involved.

In a separate incident earlier this month, on April 15, Uran Police seized heroin worth Rs 2.52 lakh and arrested three individuals during a raid in Jasai, Uran.

The operation was conducted after receiving information about youths consuming drugs behind the Sheetal Parivahan parking lot. The arrested individuals were identified as Ravindra Kalyan Shetty (27), Ganesh Dattu Bhide (25), and Ganesh Vinay Patil (19).

During the raid, police had recovered 85 packets of heroin weighing 6.32 grams from Patil. The seized drugs were valued at Rs 2,52,800 in the international market.

Police had stated that the operation was part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking and abuse, following complaints from local residents. Authorities had also highlighted concerns about increasing drug use among students, warning that addiction can lead to serious health issues and contribute to rising crime rates, posing significant challenges to law enforcement.

/IANS