Panaji: In a significant development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai has arrested four individuals, including the notorious Danish Merchant, also known as Danish Chikna. Merchant, who has a history of alleged involvement with drug syndicates and has been previously apprehended by various agencies, was reportedly operating a drug network from a hotel in Goa. Police confirmed the arrests on Wednesday.
NCB officials revealed that Merchant and his wife were taken into custody on October 25 from a resort in Goa. They are accused of possessing and distributing significant quantities of narcotics.
The operation began on the night of September 18 in Pune when the NCB intercepted a suspect and seized 502 grams of mephedrone. This led investigators to a property linked to Merchant, where an additional 839 grams of mephedrone were discovered, and one of his associates was arrested.
According to an NCB statement, the investigation identified Merchant and his wife as the key figures orchestrating the drug syndicate. They had been evading authorities by moving across multiple states. However, following a thorough investigation and pursuit, they were located and apprehended at a holiday resort in Goa.
Merchant is no stranger to law enforcement, with several prior cases registered against him under the Narcotics Act. These include three cases filed by the NCB and Rajasthan Police, along with seven criminal cases lodged by the Mumbai Police.