Mumbai: Woman, 60, held for using minor boys to sell heroin in Borivali, Dahisar

Kasturba Marg police in Mumbai have cracked down on a Borivali family accused of running a drug network. The family allegedly used minor boys from financially weak households as couriers, or "mules". Police have arrested a 60-year-old woman, described as the alleged mastermind of the racket. Her 32-year-old daughter-in-law has also been arrested.

The main accused is Rehana Abdul Hamid Mullani, alias Raliyappa. Police describe her as a habitual drug trafficker active in the trade since 2008. According to an officer, Rehana built her network by targeting homes where someone was seriously ill and the family was struggling to raise money for treatment. She then put the minor boys of these families to work selling heroin.

The officer said, "She paid these children Rs 1,000 for selling a bundle of about 100 small packets. Each packet held roughly 3 to 4 grams of the drug. The children worked mainly in the slums of Daulat Nagar near Sanjay Gandhi National Park and in parts of Borivali and Dahisar East."

Police made a breakthrough in October, when they caught a woman with 32 grams of heroin. During questioning she allegedly said she had got the consignment from Rehana and her daughter-in-law Farida Mullani.

Police then began looking for the two women, who had gone into hiding with other family members. Acting on an informer's tip, police traced them to an SRA building near Dahisar Market on SV Road and arrested them on November 2.

According to police, Rehana brought the narcotics from Masjid Bunder, divided them into small packets and then had minors sell them. Police are also questioning two of Rehana's sons and a grandson, who are suspected of involvement in the drug trade. The family is said to run the business in Borivali and Dahisar.

Police records show more than 18 criminal cases against Rehana. These include four of drug trafficking, five of offences against the body, two of assaulting public servants, three of rioting and three of property offences. She has also been externed from the area twice before.

The action was taken under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (North Region) Shashikumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Gajanan Rajmane, Dahisar division ACP Jayraj Ranavare and Senior Inspector Balasaheb Bankar.