Mumbai Police arrested Danish Merchant, also known as Danish Chikna, an associate of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, in a major narcotics case. Merchant is reportedly responsible for managing Dawood’s drug operations in the Dongri area of Mumbai. He was apprehended alongside his associate Kader Ghulam Sheikh, following a series of investigations into the drug trade.
The police investigation was initiated after the arrest of two individuals, Mohammed Ashikur Sahidur Rahman and Rehan Shakeel Ansari, in November. The arrest of Rahman on November 8 near Marine Lines Station with 144 grams of drugs led the authorities to Ansari, who was found in possession of an additional 55 grams of narcotics. During questioning, Ansari disclosed that the drugs were supplied by Danish Merchant and another associate, Qadir Fanta.
Following this revelation, the police intensified their search for Merchant and Fanta. Acting on a tip-off, Mumbai Police tracked both individuals down to Dongri on December 13, leading to their arrest.
This arrest is significant as it highlights Merchant’s crucial role in Dawood Ibrahim’s drug syndicate, particularly in managing operations in the Dongri area. In 2019, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had dismantled one of Dawood’s drug factories in Dongri, seizing narcotics worth crores of rupees, and Danish Merchant was apprehended in Rajasthan at that time.
The arrest is expected to unravel further details of the drug trade network in Mumbai, with Merchant being a key figure in managing and distributing narcotics for the infamous gangster.