On Monday evening, Unit 9 of Mumbai crime branch seized high-quality masks around 25.22 lakh quantity which is worth Rs 15 crore.
During the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitisers and face masks have been brought under lists of essential goods and their black marketing is strictly prohibited. According to the police officials, the high-quality N-95 masks are currently high in demand and in short supply were seized.
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A total of 3.25 lakh masks were seized near air cargo outside the Mumbai International Airport while 22 lakh masks were seized from a godown in Bhiwandi. Under the essential commodities act, Police officials have arrested four people in the case.
"There is a huge shortage of masks in the market and amidst that police officials came to know of these huge quantity masks and then carried out the operation. Those involved in hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities will face strict action," Maharashtra home minister for state Anil Deshmukh said.
The accused were selling 3 ply face mask for Rs 20 in the black market which costs Rs 2. While N-95 mask is priced at around Rs 100 and the accused involved were selling at around Rs 300 in the market.
The arrested accused have been identified as Balaji Muttupandi Nadar, Shahrukh Akhil Shaikh, Mihir Darshan Patel and Gulam Murtuza Munshir. Nadar is an operator and Patel is a custom housing agent while Shaikh and Munshir are godown owners. The accused allegedly were planning to export the face masks despite a strict government circular banning exports of face masks due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
"We had formed four teams headed by senior police inspector Mahesh Desai and the first raid was conducted at the Akhil warehouse and Gulam warehouse in Sahar. When the accused were interrogated, they further revealed about the godown in Bhiwandi and raids were conducted accordingly," said DCP Akbar Pathan from the Mumbai crime branch.