The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully orchestrated the return of fugitive drug kingpin Virender Singh Basoya to India from the United Arab Emirates. Basoya, implicated in a colossal Rs 13,000 crore drug trafficking operation, was immediately taken into custody upon his arrival. His arrest in the UAE in June followed the issuance of an Interpol red notice, a critical step initiated by the NCB. This significant extradition marks a triumph of persistent collaboration between various Indian agencies and their counterparts in the UAE.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded this achievement, emphasizing the government’s unwavering commitment to combating narcotics. In a post on X, he declared that the administration is “relentlessly tracking down drug traffickers hiding abroad and destroying their entire ecosystem with a ruthless approach.” He further stated that this successful operation sets a new benchmark in India’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs, proving that “no matter where drug traffickers hide, they cannot escape the long arm of Indian law.”
Basoya’s escape from India occurred in 2023, just a day after his son’s wedding, a calculated move to evade justice. Despite a look-out circular being issued against him following the emergence of the Delhi drugs case in October 2024, he continued to orchestrate his illicit network from overseas.
The intricate details of the Rs 13,000 crore drug syndicate began to unravel on October 1, 2024, when the Delhi Police Special Cell, acting on crucial intelligence, raided a location in Mahipalpur Extension, New Delhi. This raid yielded approximately 16 kg of a cocaine-like substance, 547 kg of pure cocaine, and 39.706 kg of hydroponic marijuana. Three individuals—Tushar Goyal, Himanshu Kumar, and Aurangzeb Siddiqui—were apprehended at the scene. Two days later, Jatinder Singh Gill, also known as Jassi, was arrested at Amritsar airport. A subsequent search on October 5 of a Fortuner vehicle he utilized in Punjab uncovered an additional 1.096 kg of drugs. Court records later revealed that this vehicle was registered to Basoya’s brother, Ravinder.
Further investigations led to the recovery of 208 kg of suspected drugs in Ramesh Nagar, Delhi, on October 10, ingeniously concealed within packets of spicy snacks. This was followed by a massive seizure on October 13, when 518.18 kg of mephedrone was discovered at the premises of Aavkar Drug Pvt Ltd in Ankleshwar, Gujarat. Collectively, these seizures amounted to an astonishing 1,289 kg of cocaine/mephedrone and approximately 39.7 kg of hydroponic marijuana. The ongoing investigation culminated in January 2026 with the arrest of Tilak Prasad Sharma in Sikkim, bringing the total number of accused in the case to 14. The Delhi Police has since filed a comprehensive charge sheet in court.
The probe uncovered a sophisticated network that leveraged legitimate companies such as Pharma Solution Services, RM Biochem, and Life Saver Pharma as fronts for their illicit activities. Drugs were processed at pharmaceutical and chemical facilities in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, then disguised as medical consignments and shipped to various Indian cities, including Delhi-NCR. These illicit substances were ingeniously hidden within chemical consignments, cardboard boxes, clothing, and even snack packets. The network’s reach extended to Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Goa, with some drugs reportedly consumed at exclusive parties and music events. Law enforcement agencies revealed that the syndicate had extensive international ties, with Basoya and Sandip Sansar Dhune identified as its principal orchestrators. Their foreign connections spanned the UK, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Dubai. The drugs primarily originated from South America and were trafficked into India via Dubai. To evade detection, the drug network employed highly secure and coded communication methods, shunning direct phone calls in favor of encrypted applications and cryptocurrency for transactions. Even locations and pickup points for drug deliveries were communicated through these secure channels.
Basoya’s involvement in another major drug operation, the 970 kg mephedrone case, surfaced in February 2024. In this instance, the massive drug consignment, intended for London, was being prepared by Delta Logistics. The owner, Sandeep Hanumansingh Yadav, and company manager, Devendra Ramful Yadav, were subsequently arrested.
The investigation also implicated Basoya’s brother, Ravinder Basoya. The Fortuner vehicle, from which 1,096 kg of drugs were recovered on October 5, 2024, belonged to Ravinder and was being used by Jatinder Singh Gill (Jassi). Ravinder was later arrested in December 2024 in connection with this drug case.
Even Basoya’s son, Rishabh Basoya, found himself under intense scrutiny. The Delhi Police investigation revealed that Rishabh’s SUV was used to transport drug consignments. CCTV footage from hotels in Delhi’s HUDCO Place and Panchsheel Enclave areas provided compelling evidence of a connection between Rishabh and Jassi. Police allege that Rishabh was not merely a family member but played an active role in the network’s logistics and drug movement. Consequently, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him. Reports from November 2025 indicated that Rishabh had fled abroad to evade arrest, further highlighting the deep-rooted nature of this criminal enterprise.
