Danish Merchant, also known as Danish Chikna, a key associate of underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested by Mumbai Police on Friday in connection with a major drug racket. Merchant, who allegedly manages Dawood’s illicit drug operations in the Dongri area, was apprehended along with his associate, Kader Ghulam Sheikh.
The arrest follows an extensive investigation initiated months ago, which involved multiple arrests related to the drug trade. According to Mumbai Police sources, Merchant was a wanted fugitive in this case. His arrest is seen as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on Dawood’s narcotic networks.
The chain of events leading to Merchant’s capture began on November 8, when two individuals, Mohammed Ashikur Sahidur Rahman and Rehan Shakeel Ansari, were arrested near Marine Lines Station with large quantities of narcotics. Rahman was found with 144 grams of drugs, and during interrogation, he revealed that the drugs were supplied by Ansari, who operated out of Dongri. Following Rahman’s disclosure, Ansari was arrested, and the police seized an additional 55 grams of narcotics.
Further investigations revealed that Merchant, along with his associate Qadir Fanta, was a key supplier in this drug distribution network. The police had been tracking both suspects for several weeks, and on December 13, acting on a tip-off, they located Merchant and Fanta in Dongri. A well-coordinated operation led to their arrest, and both men confessed to their involvement in the drug operations during questioning.
This arrest is linked to the dismantling of Dawood Ibrahim’s drug factory in Dongri by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2019. At that time, authorities seized narcotics worth several crores of rupees, and Merchant was briefly arrested in Rajasthan. However, he was later released from jail before being apprehended again this week.
Mumbai Police have reiterated their commitment to breaking down Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal empire and continue to pursue those involved in illegal activities across the city. The arrest of Danish Chikna is expected to have a significant impact on the ongoing efforts to dismantle the narcotics network associated with one of India’s most notorious gangsters.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the extent of the drug trafficking operations and are looking for other individuals connected to the syndicate.
Sources By Agencies