Lucknow, 11 Oct: According to a statement by Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force on Wednesday, they apprehended two men sought in a narcotics case in Maharashtra who were attempting to flee to Nepal.
The STF detained Abhishek Bilas Balakwade and Bhushan Anil Patil in a case involving the recovery of narcotics worth Rs 300 crore in Maharashtra in a combined operation with the Pune Crime Branch of the Maharashtra Police.
According to an STF announcement, the two were apprehended near Bahraich turn in the Nagar Kotwali region of Barabanki district.
Sunil Tambe, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Pune, who was involved in the operation, had previously informed the STF in Lucknow of the presence of the main accused in the 150 kg-MDMA seizure in Maharashtra, with a warning that they could be attempting to flee to Nepal.
Both men were wanted in several other drug trafficking cases in the Pune and Nashik areas, according to STF. They were also reportedly involved in a plot to free Maharashtra’s most powerful drug lord, Lalit Patil, from police prison on October 2.
During questioning, it was found that Bhushan Anil Patil is Lalit Patil’s younger brother, and Abhishek Bilas is the manager of Lalit Patil’s narcotics network.
The two informed police that they and Lalit Patil had been making MDMA and distributing it to bars and rave events since 2014. The gang had established facilities in Aurangabad, Pune, and Nashik to produce the drug known as Ecstasy.
According to the announcement, the suspects were turned over to the Pune team after legal processes.
