On the basis of a tip-off, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had intercepted Shah and Attari at Chennai airport a few months ago. (Photo: Unsplash)
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The Mumbai Police on Friday arrested three men, members of an international drug syndicate, who had smuggled cocaine from Ethiopia to India a few months ago. The accused have been identified as Tarun Kapoor, 26, Himanshu Shah, 25, and Sahil Attari, 25.
On the basis of a tip-off, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had intercepted Shah and Attari at Chennai airport a few months ago. During the search, the agency seized a total of 5 kg cocaine from them. During interrogation, both identified Kapoor as the mastermind of the syndicate. The Mumbai NCB then arrested Kapoor on September 2 from Dongri area and handed him over to the Chennai NCB for further probe, said an official.
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The agency conducted searches in Mumbai but they did not find any contraband and the trio were booked in Chennai under the NDPS case.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police claims they also got a tip-off on September 2 and during a probe found that Kapoor had hidden contraband at Sabina guest house. The Dongri police conducted a search and seized 3 kilograms of cocaine worth Rs 15 crore.
During the probe, the Dongri police learnt about the accused’s jail remand in Chennai. So they approached the court in Chennai and got their custody on production warrant.
Kapoor, Attari and Shah were brought to Mumbai on Friday and arrested in the cocaine seizure case. They were produced in the court and remanded in police custody till November 18, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe (Zone 1). The contraband was smuggled in the form of capsules, he said.
Kapoor and Attari are residents of Himachal Pradesh while Shah is a resident of Haryana. Kapoor had visited Ethiopia and brought the consignment in August. Once he arrived, Shah and Attari also went to Ethiopia but they were caught while bringing the consignment to Chennai airport, added the officer. The accused have a common friend in Ethiopia who is a native of Punjab and settled there. He has been providing them with drugs, the officer said.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness.
Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai).
Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including:
Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust.
Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations.
Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events.
Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements.
Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
