In a major crackdown, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has busted an international drug trafficking network with the arrest of 10 individuals, including a Customs superintendent and two constables from the Navi Mumbai police force. The syndicate, which smuggled narcotics from Thailand and the United States into India, is suspected to have links to a Rs 200 crore drug haul uncovered earlier this year.
The investigation took a tragic turn last week when Navi Mumbai-based builder Gurunath Chichkar, whose name surfaced during the probe, died by suicide. In his suicide note, Chichkar accused law enforcement agencies of harassment. Navi Mumbai Police, however, clarified that he had only been summoned once for questioning regarding the alleged involvement of his son, Navin Chichkar, previously named the prime accused in a February drug bust by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
How the Drug Smuggling Racket Operated
Addressing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amit Kale revealed the modus operandi of the network. Sujit Bangera (28), a former hockey player who claimed to have represented India, allegedly ordered high-value narcotics like hydroponic weed and cocaine from Thailand and the U.S. The drugs were shipped via international postal parcels addressed to Mumbai.
In a shocking revelation, Customs Superintendent Prashant Gaur, tasked with supervising foreign post clearance for five Indian states, allegedly accepted bribes of ₹1 lakh per kilogram of contraband to ensure smooth passage of these parcels. The parcel tracking numbers would be shared in advance with Gaur, who would then facilitate their clearance without inspection.
Once cleared, the parcels were reportedly collected by Kamal Chandwani alias KK (56) using fake Aadhaar credentials, and later passed to Bangera for distribution to local peddlers.
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Role of Police and Hawala Operators
The nexus further extended into law enforcement, with constables Sachin Bhalerao (40) and Sanjay Phulkar (36)accused of accepting bribes to aid accused persons in evading arrest. The financial trail led investigators to two hawala operators, who allegedly converted cash proceeds into USDT (Tether) cryptocurrency and transferred them to suppliers abroad. Both operators have been arrested.
Builder’s Suicide and Ongoing Probe
The police acknowledged that during the interrogation of the accused, Navin Chichkar’s name emerged, prompting them to question his father Gurunath Chichkar earlier this month. Following the builder’s suicide, officials emphasized that their actions were limited and did not amount to harassment. The cause and extent of the Chichkar family’s involvement remain under investigation.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to trace the overseas source of the narcotics and dismantle the remaining links of the international smuggling ring.
