Mumbai: Sameer Wankhede's tenure at NCB ends; will report to DG DRI

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede, posted as zonal director of the Mumbai Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has been de-attached from the anti-drug agency with immediate effect, following an order issued by the Central government on Monday. Wankhede’s tenure at the NCB ended on December 31, 2021. NCB Indore’s Zonal Director Brijendra Singh has been given additional charge of Mumbai NCB Unit, following Wankhede’s exit. During his 16-month tenure, 14 different gangs dealing in drugs in Mumbai and nearby areas were busted.

“Sameer Wankhede, Joint Director, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), attached with the NCB and posted as the ZD is now hereby de-attached from the NCB, with immediate effect. Wankhede, a 2008 batch IRS officer of Customs & Central Excise, is hereby directed to report to the Director General of DRI in Delhi,” the Ceentral government order stated.

Wankhede had been ‘loaned’ to the NCB in 2020 from the DRI for six months, to probe the case pertaining to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and had received two extensions in the agency.

As Mumbai NCB chief, Wankhede had been instrumental in taking action on drug peddlers and suppliers and was able to bust several drug trafficking syndicates. He had spearheaded the raid on a cruise liner last in October last year, leading to the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan. However, the NCB raid ran into in stormy waters after Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik raised questions over the raid.

Wankhede’s last operation in the NCB was on December 31. On the basis of an intelligence input regarding the trafficking of MDMA and other narcotics contraband, an NCB team had intercepted two female drug traffickers at Siolim Wadi, Bardez, Goa and succeeded in affecting the seizure of 1.030 kilograms of marijuana, 49 MDMA tablets (Commercial quantity), 25 grams of amphetamine, 2.2 grams of cocaine, 1 gram of MDMA powder and a vehicle/scooter.

Below are details of cases under Wankhede's tenure of 16 months in NCB
Total Cases – 145
Total arrested – 326 persons (Foreigner arrested – 48)
Major drugs seized – Codeine – 101.584kg, heroin – 42.561kg, cocaine – 1.450kg, charas – 43.912kg, Ganja – 1450.241kg, amphetamine – 2.215kg, mephedrone – 15.525kg, Pseudoephedrine – 2.5kg, ephedrine – 15.786kg, poppy straw – 111kg, methamphetamine – 1.436kg, alprazolam- 275 grams, tramadol – 4.550kg, MDMA – 104.18 grams, LSD – 20.656 grams, zolpidem – 2.525kg, clonazepam – 6 grams, opium – 5.626kg, nitrazepam – 400 grams, Methaqualone – 10 grams