After years on the run, Naveen Chichkar—the alleged mastermind behind an international drug trafficking racket—has finally been brought back to India. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) confirmed his extradition from Malaysia, where he had been hiding after initially fleeing to Thailand in 2021.
Chichkar is believed to have continued running the syndicate remotely from abroad. His network, according to investigators, was deeply entrenched in smuggling operations that funneled cocaine and high-grade hydroponic cannabis from the United States into Mumbai via air cargo. These drugs were then either distributed across India or shipped out to countries like Australia.
The NCB began tightening the noose in January this year, after they intercepted a suspicious parcel containing 200 grams of cocaine cleverly concealed in a projector bound for Australia. That one seizure cracked the case wide open, leading to the arrest of eight individuals. So far, 11 people have been held in connection with the case—including two police officers and a postal department employee—pointing to just how deep the network’s reach was.
But the investigation also took a heartbreaking turn. In April, Naveen’s father, 50-year-old builder Gurunath Chichkar, died by suicide at his Belapur office. Sources say the emotional and reputational toll of his son’s alleged crimes may have contributed to the tragedy.
With Naveen now in custody, authorities are hoping to uncover the full extent of the operation and bring everyone involved to justice
