The Delhi Police’s special cell has made two significant arrests in connection with one of the largest-ever cocaine seizures in India, valued at more than Rs5,000 crore. The two arrested individuals, Ravinder Basoiya (44) and Jackson Fernandes (47), were allegedly key operatives in a drug cartel that smuggled large quantities of cocaine into India under the direction of a Dubai-based kingpin.
The cocaine bust, which resulted in over 1,290kg of drugs being seized from Delhi and Gujarat since October, has been linked to Virender Basoiya, Ravinder’s elder brother, who remains at large. The cartel’s activities span multiple countries, including the UK, Dubai, and India, with drugs being trafficked via old cargo ships.
On October 1, the Delhi Police intercepted more than 560kg of cocaine at a warehouse owned by publishing house owner Tushar Goyal in Mahipalpur. Investigations revealed that Goyal and Virender Basoiya had a connection from their time in Tihar jail. The cocaine was smuggled from South America to Dubai and then moved to Goa before being distributed across India.
Ravinder Basoiya, who had been on the run since October, was arrested at a hotel in East Delhi on Thursday. He had returned to Delhi to visit his family. Police believe that Ravinder, along with his brother Virender, was responsible for overseeing the transportation and storage of the cocaine.
Jackson Fernandes, who was managing multiple shell companies for the cartel, was arrested in Delhi on Wednesday. Fernandes, based in Navi Mumbai, had been on the run since the October arrests. He is accused of using fake pharmaceutical companies to smuggle and process drugs across India.
The Basoiya brothers created fake companies, such as “Pharms Solution Services,” to disguise their illegal activities and smuggle drugs through the guise of legitimate business operations. Fernandes is said to have played a central role in establishing several shell companies to manage the cartel’s finances and drug operations.
In addition to the initial arrests, Delhi Police have uncovered further links between the cartel and a Gujarat-based pharmaceuticals company, Aavkar Drugs Pvt Ltd. On October 13, police raided the company’s factory in Ankleshwar, seizing another 518kg of cocaine. The three CEOs of Aavkar Drugs were arrested for collaborating with the Basoiyas to store and distribute the drugs.
