Maharashtra: Police arrest 2 and seize heroin worth Rs 7 crore linked to gangster

Thane: The Thane City Police Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) arrested two persons and seized 1 kg and 736 grams of heroin valued at approximately Rs 6.9 crore, officials said. The operation also brought back into focus a notorious gangster who allegedly remained underground for nearly 22 years after fleeing the country.Acting on a high-level directive to intensify the crackdown on narcotics, the Thane Crime Branch received a confidential tip-off about a planned drug exchange. Based on the intelligence, a special team laid a trap near Humanity Public School in Diva during the early hours of Feb 3, 2026. One accused, Wajahat Sayeed (47), was apprehended at the spot with the contraband, while further investigation led to the arrest of his associate, Mohammad Mahadik.A case was registered under Sections 8(c), 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act at Shil-Daighar Police Station. Police said the seizure exposed an inter-state drug smuggling syndicate, and efforts are underway to trace its backward and forward linkages.Investigations revealed the involvement of Mahadik, a notorious gangster and prime accused. Police said Mahadik, after the 1993 Bombay blasts, fled India soon after and worked in Muscat, Oman, before returning to the country after nearly 22 years by using a fake identity. He was earlier arrested by the Unit-1 Crime Branch for a fake passport."Mahadik has a long criminal history dating back to the 1990s, with cases related to fake passports, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and extortion, and he had good relations with all the gangs then, including Dawood Ibrahim and others," said the Thane police.Investigators identified him as the main supplier of the heroin seized by the ANC Thane unit in the present case.Senior police officials said the probe is continuing to identify other members of the syndicate and possible inter-state and international links. Thane police appealed to citizens to share any information related to drug trafficking.