Latest news with #Anti-NarcoticsCell
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Nigerian Man Held with Cocaine in Mumbai Claims Innocence, Says Bag Was Planted
Mumbai: A 39-year-old Nigerian national was arrested by the Worli unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) on Saturday for allegedly possessing 200 grams of cocaine worth Rs 2 crores in Mumbai's Malad area. However, the accused, Frank Chibuzar Nandi, has claimed that the narcotics were planted on him and that he has been falsely implicated in the case. According to police, acting on a specific tip-off, officers laid a trap near PJ Colony, Orlem Marve Road in Malad, and intercepted Nandi, who was reportedly carrying a bag. Upon searching the bag, police said they recovered 200 grams of white powder suspected to be a narcotic substance. A field drug test confirmed it to be cocaine. Police also seized a Honda City car from Nandi's possession. A panchnama was drawn on the spot, and Nandi was produced before the Holiday Court on Sunday. While the police sought custody for further investigation, the accused told the court that he had been framed. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai "The police simply arrested me, planted the bag on me, took photos and videos, and later said the seizure was drugs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Turn everyday drives into standout moments. Toyota Glanza Learn More Undo I completely deny this," Nandi said in open court when asked if he had any complaints. The court advised Nandi to engage a lawyer, but the accused requested to first speak to his wife before appointing legal counsel. The magistrate then directed police to facilitate a phone call to his wife. Nandi remains in custody while further investigation is underway.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
Maha to amend MCOCA to nail drug mafia: Fadnavis
Nagpur: In a major step aimed at combating the growing narcotics menace in Maharashtra, CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that drug offenders will now be prosecuted under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The state govt will amend the law in the current legislative session itself to enable this move. Fadnavis made the announcement while responding to a question raised by MLC Parinay Fuke in the legislative council. Highlighting the severity of the drugs issue in smaller cities like Bhandara and Gondia, Fuke said that the synthetic drug mephedrone (MD) has become easily accessible to the youth. He expressed concern over hookah parlours acting as hubs for drug exposure, citing instances of minors, as young as 15 years, in Nagpur getting involved in violent crimes under the influence of drugs. Responding to the concerns, Fadnavis said drug-related crimes are difficult to curb solely through arrests. "We book these offenders under NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. They later secure bail and resume illegal activities. So we were thinking whether we can book them under MCOCA. Now that decision has been taken. We will amend the law, bring them under organized crime (definition). This amendment will be introduced in this session itself," he said. The CM also pointed out the challenge of inter-state criminal movements, stating that drug offenders often cross state borders to avoid arrest. However, he added that improved intelligence-sharing among states has now made tracking such criminals more effective. Maharashtra registered 1,490 cases related to MD over the past three years. In total, 5,151kg MD and its raw materials were seized over the last five years, with the estimated value exceeding Rs9,500 crore and 116 accused arrested during the period. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Official records confirm that shutdown factories and chemical labs across Maharashtra were used for illegal production of mephedrone. Raids conducted by Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Mumbai Police, State Intelligence Directorate, and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to several busts. Fadnavis reiterated the state's commitment to eradicating the drug menace, not just with strict law enforcement but also by sensitising communities, especially the youth, about the perils of drug abuse. Govt's Other Initiatives * Anti-narcotics cells have been set up in all police units * The Narco-coordination (NCORD) mechanism has been overhauled and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) established * A total of 346 new posts have been created for ANTF under a govt order issued in March 2025 * A state-level nodal officer has been appointed, and both state and district-level NCORD committees have been formed for regular monitoring * Awareness campaigns, including rallies, street plays, and school outreach, were held under a fortnight-long anti-drug drive (June 12–26) coinciding with International Anti-Drug Day on June 26
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Three arrested after ‘suspicious powder' seized from scrap turns out to be MD pegged at Rs 1.25 crore
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Three people were arrested by the anti-narcotics squad of the city police after a 'suspicious powder' seized from two mini trucks carrying plastic scrap turned out to be mephedrone drugs. Commissioner of police Pravin Pawar said that this could possibly be the tip of an iceberg. "We are probing this case from all possible angles. Apart from the three accused arrested in the case, our teams are trying to arrest some more accused," Pawar told TOI. Police authorities said that a total of about 2,500 grams of drugs valued at over Rs 1.25 crore were seized. The seizure started with the anti-narcotics squad on June 21 intercepting two mini trucks that were found carrying suspicious powder covered in the plastic scrap lifted by a scrap vendor from a pharmaceutical company. You Can Also Check: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar AQI | Weather in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | Bank Holidays in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | Public Holidays in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar The arrested accused have been identified as Shafiqulrahman Tafazzul Hussain (45), a resident of Sajapur; Raj Ramteerth Adhure (38); and Baban Khan, both from Rajapur. They have been booked under sections 21(c), 22(c), 8(c), 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The case was officially registered at MIDC Waluj police station shortly after midnight on Tuesday, based on the complaint filed by PSI Amol Maske from the Anti-Narcotics Cell. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo According to officials, the accused used scrap collected from a pharmaceutical company in MIDC Waluj as a cover to transport the banned MD-like substance. The seized material was found stored inside a godown belonging to one of the accused in Sajapur. The police recovered three consignments: 1.111 kg of a white powder-like substance resembling MD, valued at Rs 55.55 lakh; 401 gm of a similar substance worth Rs 20.05 lakh; and 961 gm of the powder estimated at Rs 48.05 lakh. The total seizure is valued at about Rs 1.25 crore. Police officials said that the contraband was transported in plastic drums concealed under scrap material, possibly to evade detection. "These synthetic drugs were apparently meant to be sold locally and stored in the godown with the intent of illegal distribution," said inspector Geeta Bagwade, who is investigating the case. She stated that a detailed probe is underway and forensic teams have been roped in to confirm the nature of the powder seized. The suspects allegedly failed to provide any valid documents or explanation regarding the transport and storage of the chemical substances. The incident has raised concerns once again about the misuse of industrial waste routes for trafficking drugs, especially from pharma units in MIDC Waluj belt — a zone that has been under scrutiny since the Rs 250 crore drug bust by DRI and Ahmedabad crime branch in Oct 2023.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Drug cartel kingpin deported from Malaysia in custody of Navi Mumbai police, one aide held from Nerul
NAVI MUMBAI: The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) unit of the Navi Mumbai crime branch took custody of the drug cartel kingpin, Navi Chichkar, who was arrested in May by the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau in the Rs 1,000 crore drug seizure case. ANC team also took custody of Chickar's aide identified as Prabhat Pandey (30). Chichkar was deported from Malaysia after a red-corner notice was issued against him. The custody of Chichkar' and Pandey was taken by the Navi Mumbai ANC in connection with the seizure of 17.2 grams of hydro ganja worth Rs 2.80 lakh on April 14. This followed a raid conducted on a tip-off about a drug deal being carried out in a terrace flat in Sector-15, Nerul. The flat owner, Ashish Gaware (22), and Ahmed Aulagi (23) were arrested, but their associate, Akash Maurya, escaped and is still untraceable. Sandeep Nigade, senior inspector of the ANC, said, "The alleged drug kingpin, Navin Chichkar and his aide Pandey were produced before the Belapur JMFC court and remanded in police custody untill June 16. Till date, 18 accused have been arrested in the drugs cartel operated by kingpin Navin Chichkar and 14 more accused are wanted." After a fortnight of the drug seizure, the Navi Mumbai crime branch team arrested a former national hockey player, a customs superintendent, a clearing agent, two police constables, and two angadias in connection with the April 14 hydro ganja bust by the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC). The alleged kingpin of this drug cartel was Naveen Chichkar, the elder son of builder Gurunath Chichkar, who shot himself in the head at his Belapur office on April 25. Chichkar's police custody was obtained for further interrogation, informed a crime branch officer. Builder Gurunath Chichkar left behind a note in which he alleged being 'harassed' by cops who repeatedly summoned him for inquiry into the drug cases filed against his sons, Naveen and Dhiraj. After the April 14 drug bust in Nerul, during interrogation, the arrested duo, Gaware and Aulagi, revealed the names of former hockey player Sujit Bangera and Sahil Lambe (27), both Nerul residents, who allegedly smuggled the hydro ganja from Thailand to Mumbai via flights. At Mumbai airport, the contraband was cleared by customs clearing agent Kamal Chandwani (56) and customs superintendent Prashant Gaur (40), both Kharghar residents, who were also arrested. During the investigation, the police found that Kharghar police constable Sandeep Bhalerao (40) was communicating with Chandwani for the past six months, and ANC unit constable Sanjay Phulkar (36) was in touch with Bhalerao since the cartel bust. Hence, the two cops were also arrested. Further investigation showed that the cash obtained by Bangera and Chandwani from the sale of hydro ganja was routed to Thailand through two Vashi-based angadias, Ankit Patel and Rinkunkumar Patel, who converted it into cryptocurrency, and hence they too were arrested.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Cops bust drugs cartel, arrest 7, including a British national
MUMBAI: An international drug cartel was busted by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police with the arrest of seven people. The police said among the arrested is a British national, who is the kingpin of the racket and smuggled the drugs into the country via Mozambique - a transshipment point for illicit drug trafficking. 'Acting on a tip-off, our teams on May 28 arrested Kuldeep Singh Harjeet Singh Gozara, 50, a resident of De Vere Gardens, Kensington, an affluent locality in London. He was carrying a trolley bag and when that was checked, our teams found 5.02 kg of cocaine, valued at around ₹52 crore, in it,' said a police officer. Gozara was picked up from Jogeshwari East where he had come to deliver the consignment. He is originally from Punjab but settled in London, said the police officer. The Worli Unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell started a probe after the arrest of Gozara to trace his buyers and suppliers. Following his interrogation, they arrested Shaikh Mohammad Arif Uddin, who stays in Mozambique in East Africa, and is believed to be a Bangladeshi national. 'We also arrested Mahendra Preji, who hails from Diu Island. Our teams further arrested Abdul Samad Afzal Memon, Parvez Afaq and Rishabh Edris,' said the police officer. Police also seized various codes from them related to hawala payments which are being scrutinized. 'We have found that the accused made several trips to Mozambique and Dubai. Our interrogations are at the primary stage and the seized drugs' value is around ₹52 crore,' said the officer.
