The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully secured the deportation of Navin Gurunath Chichkar, the alleged kingpin of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate, from Malaysia to India. Chichkar, a 35-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai, had been evading authorities since 2021 after being implicated in an LSD trafficking case. He was initially traced to Thailand and subsequently located in Malaysia, where he was apprehended following a Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol at the NCB’s request .

The investigation into Chichkar’s activities began on January 21, 2025, when 200 grams of cocaine were discovered concealed within a projector in a parcel destined for Australia. This led to a series of raids, culminating in the seizure of 11.54 kilograms of cocaine, 4.9 kilograms of cannabis, and 5.5 kilograms of cannabis-infused gummies from a residence in Navi Mumbai .

The NCB’s probe revealed that Chichkar’s syndicate was involved in smuggling cocaine and hybrid hydroponic cannabis from the United States to India via air cargo. The drugs were then distributed across India and re-exported to countries including Australia. The operation also uncovered the involvement of clearing house agents and hawala operators facilitating the financial transactions behind the drug network .

To date, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with this case. Additionally, a financial investigation has led to the identification of assets, including properties and bank accounts in Thailand, linked to the syndicate. Efforts are underway to attach these assets under relevant laws .

Tragically, the case has had personal ramifications; Chichkar’s father, Gurunath Chichkar, a 50-year-old builder, died by suicide in April 2025. Reports suggest he was under significant mental distress due to the ongoing investigations into his sons’ alleged involvement in drug trafficking .

Chichkar, who holds a postgraduate degree in psychology from the United Kingdom, is currently in NCB custody in Mumbai. Authorities anticipate that his interrogation will yield further insights into the syndicate’s operations, including the sources of the narcotics and the extent of the network’s reach .

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