🧨 India’s ₹52 Crore Cocaine Catch in Thane: A Warning to Stop Drugs Before They Destroy Future Generations😢

by Vaishali Yadav.

On May 28, 2025, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Thane Police seized 5.02 kilograms of cocaine in a high-level operation geared specifically toward research as part of a significant effort to combat international drug trafficking. The arrest took place in Jogeshwari East, a suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra. The primary suspect arrested was 50-year-old Punjabi Kuldeep Singh Harjeet Singh Gozara, who had lived in De Vere Gardens, Kensington, London, for several years. Acting on a tip-off, officers intercepted Gozara while he was transporting a trolley bag filled with high-purity cocaine intended for local distribution.

Police conducted a series of follow-up investigations following his arrest, which resulted in the detention of six additional individuals who were believed to be members of the same drug syndicate. Among them were Shaikh Mohammad Arif Uddin, a man of Bangladeshi origin currently residing in Mozambique, and Mahendra Preji, a resident of Diu Island. Parvez Afaq from Navi Mumbai, Abdul Samad Afzal Memon from Jogeshwari, and Rishabh Edris from Mumbai were among the others. Authorities believe this group was working as part of a larger, well-organized international cartel that operated through global routes. To avoid the scrutiny of law enforcement, the cartel reportedly used cities like Dubai and Mozambique as connecting points, relied on encrypted communication channels, and made illegal money transfers through hawala networks.

This seizure of over 5 kilograms of cocaine is one of the biggest drug busts ever in the Thane region. Police believe the drugs were meant to be sold both in India and sent to other countries, which shows that the smugglers were part of a well-organized network with international links.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was used to arrest all of the suspects, and the investigation is still ongoing. Police are now trying to find out more about the full network, including people involved from other countries, and how the money was being handled. This significant drug bust demonstrates the increasing pressure on Indian police to combat international drug gangs and put an end to such illegal activities.