NCB detains international drug trafficker under PIT-NDPS Act

Mumbai, Jun 17 (IANS) In a major crackdown on organised international drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai Zonal Unit on Wednesday successfully executed a preventive detention order against habitual offender Navin Gurunath Chichkar under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988.

The detention order was issued on May 15 by the Joint Secretary (PIT-NDPS Division) of the Union Revenue department and was executed on June 16.

Following the order, Chichkar was transferred from Yerwada Central Jail in Maharashtra’s Pune to Puzhal Central Jail in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai.

Chichkar is a well-known figure in drug trafficking circles with a long history of involvement in smuggling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including cocaine, hydroponic ganja, cannabis gummies, and LSD.

He has been arrested on four separate occasions by various agencies, including the NCB and Navi Mumbai Police.

In 2021, after being implicated in a major NCB Mumbai case involving commercial quantities of ganja and LSD, Chichkar fled the country.

While operating from foreign jurisdictions such as Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, The UAE, and the Republic of Vanuatu, he established connections with international drug suppliers and continued to orchestrate trafficking networks targeting India.

NCB investigations into a significant seizure in January 2025, which led to the recovery of 11.540 kg of cocaine along with hydroponic ganja and cannabis gummies, directly linked Chichkar to the operation.

He was found to have masterminded the procurement and supply of the cocaine from the US while based in Thailand. His role also surfaced in other cocaine seizure cases and hydroponic “ganja” trafficking probes by the Navi Mumbai Police.

Acting on an Interpol Red Notice issued at NCB’s request, Chichkar was deported from Malaysia to India in May 2025 and subsequently arrested.

Financial investigations by the NCB resulted in the freezing of movable and immovable assets worth more than Rs 10 crore, believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking, with the action later confirmed under SAFEMA provisions.

Authorities noted that Chichkar posed a continuing threat to society due to the high likelihood of him resuming drug trafficking activities.

The preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act was deemed essential to disrupt his operations and protect public order.

This move underscores the effectiveness of the Act as a strong legal tool to incapacitate repeat offenders and dismantle organised drug syndicates.

–IANS

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