Big Blow to Dawood’s Drug Empire, NCB Nabs Fugitive Kingpin Danish ‘Chikna’ from Goa!

(Report- Pankaj R Mishra)

In a major crackdown on the underworld’s narcotics network, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Danish Merchant alias Danish Chikna, a key aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, from Goa. According to NCB officials, Danish was wanted in a major Mephedrone (MD) drug case and had been absconding for months. Acting on specific intelligence, a team tracked him down to a luxury villa in Siolim, North Goa, where he had been hiding under a false identity. After days of surveillance, the agency arrested him and brought him to Mumbai for further interrogation.

Danish was earlier arrested by the Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell in December 2024, in connection with a large-scale MD drug syndicate. He was accused of being a key link in the supply chain operating across Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. In February 2025, he secured interim bail on medical grounds, but soon vanished, skipping court appearances. Subsequent investigations revealed that he used fake identities, forged documents, and digital payment channels to remain underground. NCB officials found that Danish continued to operate his network using codewords, encrypted chats, and cryptocurrency transactions, making the operation difficult to trace.

Officials describe Danish’s arrest as more than just a criminal bust, it’s a direct strike at the financial arteries of Dawood Ibrahim’s drug empire. Danish was reportedly involved in international drug routes that connected India’s western coast to the Gulf region. He played a key role in facilitating sea-based shipments of synthetic drugs entering through Mumbai and Gujarat. The NCB is now expanding its probe into hawala links, foreign associates, and other financiers tied to the network. Sources suggest that more high-profile arrests are likely in the coming weeks, as the agency moves to dismantle the underworld’s deep-rooted narcotics economy.