Latur cops issue notices to 10 coffee shops for norms violations

The Latur Police in Maharashtra inspected 28 coffee shops for alleged violation of norms and issued notices to as many as 10 outlets the police said on Thursday reported the PTIThe inspection of coffee shops for violation of norms including setting up enclosed compartments without authorisation an official saidThe operation was carried out on Wednesday under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Somay Munde he addedThree coffee shops had enclosed compartments which were dismantled Another 10 coffee shops were issued notices under section 168 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Police on June 20 2023 had issued a set of guidelines for coffee shops and eateries he said according to the PTIThe guidelines included installation of CCTV cameras transparent doors seating arrangement that is visible from outside visitor log book ban on smoking etc the official said as per the PTIFurther action is being taken to revoke licences of these coffee shops The district administration has been intimated about the operation he added the news agency reportedDRI busts mephedrone manufacturing unit in Latur seizes drugs worth Rs 17 croreMeanwhile the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI Mumbai in coordination with its regional units has successfully dismantled a clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing unit operating in Latur Maharashtra The operation led to the seizure of 1136 kilograms of Mephedronemdashvalued at approximately Rs 17 crore in the illicit marketmdashalong with substantial quantities of raw materials and laboratory equipmentActing on specific intelligence inputs regarding a drug syndicate involved in the illegal production of Mephedrone a banned substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act 1985 DRI officials launched a targeted operation on April 8 2025 The facility was discovered in a remote hilly area of Rohina village in Latur districtDuring the raid officers recovered 844 kg of Mephedrone in dry powder form and 292 kg in liquid form A fully equipped laboratory setup and a large cache of raw materials used in the drugs manufacture were also seizedFive individuals were arrested onsite including a serving police constable allegedly involved in the operation Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of two additional suspects in Mumbaimdasha distributor and a financiermdashbringing the total number of arrests to sevenldquoThe total value of the seized Mephedrone is estimated at Rs 17 crore in the black market All seven individuals have confessed to their roles in the financing production and trafficking of the psychotropic substancerdquo DRI officials saidThe accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act 1985 and further investigations are underwaywith PTI inputsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params