The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Danish Chikna, a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in a late-night operation in Goa.
Officials confirmed that Chikna, whose real name is Danish Merchant, was apprehended by the NCB Mumbai team for his alleged involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
According to investigators, Danish Chikna had been under surveillance for months for allegedly managing a drug manufacturing and distribution network linked to Dawood’s operations in Mumbai’s Dongri area.
NCB’s Operation and Background
The arrest took place following a coordinated operation led by NCB Mumbai, acting on specific intelligence inputs. Authorities suspect that Chikna was responsible for overseeing production and interstate distribution of narcotics through multiple proxy networks across western India.
An NCB official stated, “Danish Merchant, also known as Danish Chikna, has been a long-time associate of the Dawood syndicate. Despite earlier arrests, he continued to operate through alternate routes and handlers.”
Previous Arrests and Investigations
In 2019, the NCB had busted a drug manufacturing unit in Dongri, allegedly part of Dawood’s network, and seized narcotics worth crores of rupees. The factory, disguised as a vegetable shop, was used as a front for illegal operations.
Danish was previously arrested from Rajasthan in connection with the same case but was released shortly after due to lack of sufficient evidence at the time. Authorities say he later restructured the network using new operatives to evade law enforcement.
Ongoing Probe
The NCB is now investigating Chikna’s financial links, supply chain, and offshore contacts to determine the extent of the syndicate’s reach. Preliminary reports suggest his operations may have cross-border connections tied to Dawood Ibrahim’s larger network.
Officials have confirmed that further arrests are likely as part of the ongoing investigation.
