NCB Arrests 6 Individuals In International Drug Cartel; Police Pins Navi Mumbai Man As Key Suspect

Mumbai: A large group of drug cartels was arrested by the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The group includes several individuals, and in connection with the case, six people were arrested by the NCB.

Over the past two years, this group has sold drugs worth approximately Rs 1,128 crore across the country, according to reports by NDTV. The police indicated that the key accused, Naveen Chichkar, who was living abroad, is originally a resident of Navi Mumbai.

According to police statements, "Naveen Chichkar is the kingpin of the drug trade and has been operating the cartel through his associates for years. Chichkar has studied Criminal Psychology and completed a course in Film and Television in London. He is currently on the run."

The cartel reportedly sold drugs to Australia with cocaine and hybrid strain hydroponic weed. These drugs were delivered across the country and brought to Mumbai via air cargo from the United States.

The NCB officials discovered the source of the smuggling operation in Mumbai through a combination of technical and human intelligence on January 1, according to police.

Investigations revealed that the accused had sold at least 80 to 90 kg of cocaine and around 60 kg of hybrid strain hydroponic weed over the past two years. Authorities also arrested a 30-year-old hawala operator, H. Patel, and a trader, H. Mane, from Navi Mumbai. Hawala is an informal method of transferring money without the physical movement of cash. The duo was responsible for distributing drugs across the country, and the money generated from these sales was divided among the operators.

Police recovered 11.540 kg of high-grade cocaine, 4.9 kg of hybrid strain hydroponic weed, 200 packets (5.5 kg) of cannabis gummies, and Rs 1,60,000 in cash from Navi Mumbai.