NCB Dismantles Major Drug Syndicate; Associates, Kingpin And Wife Arrested From Goa After Seizure Of 1.341 Kg Mephedrone Worth ₹1.34 Crore

Mumbai: In a major blow to the narcotics trade, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai has successfully dismantled a well-organized drug syndicate with the arrest of its kingpin Danish Merchant alias Danish Chikna and his wife Henna Shah, both habitual offenders with multiple past narcotics related cases.

The crackdown has led to the seizure of 1.341 kilograms of Mephedrone and arrest of four persons including the key conspirators, officials said on Wednesday.

Pune-Mumbai Operation Leads To Seizures

Acting on specific intelligence, an NCB team intercepted one N. Gaikwad at Pune, and recovered 502 grams of Mephedrone from his possession. On sustained interrogation, he disclosed a storage location in Mumbai.

Swift follow-up action at the indicated premises led to the recovery of an additional 839 grams of Mephedrone from an associate Zohaib Shaikh, operating under the directions of the Kingpin. The premise was found to be associated with Henna Shah, wife and key partner of the kingpin Danish Merchant.

Kingpin And Wife Arrested In Goa Hideout

"During investigation, it was established that Merchant and Shah were orchestrating the supply chain from behind the scenes. However, both went underground immediately after the twin seizures. Intensive intelligence-based tracking revealed that the duo were constantly changing hideouts in multiple states, mobile numbers and vehicles to evade detection. After sustained surveillance, the couple were finally traced to a luxury resort in Goa. A well-coordinated operation was launched, and both were apprehended on October 25," said an NCB official.

Repeat Offenders With Criminal History

"Danish Merchant, a resident of Dongri, Mumbai, is a notorious repeat offender and has been previously arrested by NCB-Mumbai in 2021 in a case involving seizure of CBCS and Ganja. He was also booked by Rajasthan Police in 2021 in a narcotics case and by Mumbai Police in 2024 for his alleged involvement in illegal manufacture of synthetic drugs. Merchant’s criminal record includes seven other criminal cases registered by Mumbai Police, following which he was declared 'Tadipaar' (externed) from the Mumbai Municipal area in 2024. His wife, Henna Shah, also has a history of involvement in drug-related activities and was actively assisting him in distribution and concealment operations," NCB said in a statement.

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NCB Reaffirms Anti-Narcotics Commitment

"This seizure highlights the committed effort of NCB in safeguarding public health and ensuring strict enforcement against the organised drug syndicates. The Narcotics Control Bureau reaffirms its commitment to disrupt drug trafficking and allied criminal activities to achieve the vision of Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047," the official said.

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