Danish Merchant, alias Danish Chikna, a key figure in gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s alleged drug operations in Dongri, was arrested on Friday by Mumbai Police, alongside his associate, Kader Ghulam Sheikh.
Merchant was wanted for his suspected role in a drugs case under investigation for over a month.
The arrest follows the detention of Mohammed Ashikur Sahidur Rahman and Rehan Shakeel Ansari last month.
On 8 November, Rahman was apprehended near Marine Lines Station with 144 grams of drugs.
During questioning, Rahman disclosed that the narcotics were procured from Ansari in Dongri. Acting on this lead, police arrested Ansari, seizing an additional 55 grams of drugs.
Ansari further named Danish Merchant and another associate, Qadir Fanta, as key suppliers. Following weeks of pursuit, Mumbai Police tracked down Merchant and Fanta to the Dongri area on 13 December.
A meticulously planned operation resulted in their capture. During interrogation, both suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the drug network.
Sources revealed that Merchant had previously been arrested in 2019 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) when a drug factory linked to Dawood Ibrahim was dismantled in Dongri, leading to the seizure of narcotics worth crores of rupees.
Merchant, apprehended in Rajasthan at the time, remained in jail until his recent release.
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