Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) A Special NDPS Court in Mumbai’s Thane sentenced five accused, including the kingpin, in a synthetic drug trafficking case to imprisonment ranging from 15 years to one year, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on Thursday.

The Special NDPS Court in Thane sentenced the kingpin Mohammed Arif Yaqoob Bhujwala, a resident of Mumbai’s Chinchbunder, to 15 years’ imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 2 lakh, the NCB’s Mumbai Zonal Unit said.

Parvez Khan alias “Chinku Pathan” and Mohammed Salman Khan, both residents of Chinchbunder, along with Vikrant Jain, a resident of Bhiwandi in Thane, were awarded five years’ imprisonment each and fined Rs 50,000 each, the NCB added.

Haris Faizullah Khan, resident of Bandra West in Mumbai, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 10,000, it said.

The NCB investigation led to freezing of two movable and three immovable properties worth more than Rs 1.5 crore belonging to Parvez Khan alias Chinku Pathan.

Financial investigation against kingpin Mohd. Arif Bhujwala resulted in seizure and confirmation of drug sale proceeds in cash, eight movable properties, and four immovable properties collectively valued at more than Rs 5 crore, the NCB added.

The case originated on January 20, 2021, when officers of NCB Mumbai, acting on precise intelligence, conducted a search operation at Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai and apprehended a known history-sheeter and drug trafficker, Parvez Naserullah Khan.

During the operation, the NCB officers recovered 52.2 grams of Mephedrone (MD) from his possession.

“The search led to the recovery of an unlicensed pistol with five live rounds, cash amounting to Rs 12,500 suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking, and precious metal ornaments valued at Rs 3.57 lakh allegedly acquired from illicit drug earnings,” the statement said.

Investigation revealed that the seized contraband had been supplied by another notorious trafficker and financier, Mohd. Arif Bhujwala, who was operating an organised synthetic drug trafficking network from Chinchbunder area of Mumbai.

Based on disclosures and technical investigation, NCB teams carried out extensive follow-up searches at multiple premises linked to Arif Bhujwala, the NCB said.

NCB investigators said Vikrant Jain alias Vicky Jain was financing drug trafficking operations while simultaneously engaging in illicit trafficking himself.

“Search conducted at his premises in Bhiwandi resulted in seizure of 52.8 grams of Mephedrone, including contraband mixed with pan masala and tobacco products,” the NCB added.

Financial records and banking instruments recovered during the search established his role in financing and facilitating the narcotics trade, it said.

–IANS

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