Mumbai: ATS arrests notorious trafficker wanted in MD seizure case

The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested Niranjan Shah, a suspected prime member of an international drug cartel, from Delhi. Shah was wanted in a March 2021 case in which 5.065 kgs of mephedrone worth ₹2.53 crore was seized in Mumbai.

The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested Niranjan Shah, a suspected prime member of an international drug cartel, from Delhi. Shah was wanted in a March 2021 case in which 5.065 kgs of mephedrone worth ₹2.53 crore was seized in Mumbai.

Photo for representational purpose only. (FILE)

ATS claimed Shah is a known drug trafficker and has several cases registered against him in various police stations in Mumbai as well as Delhi and also with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), New Delhi and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

A police officer said Shah was an associate of late Harshad Mehta, mastermind of the securities scam. Shah was also an accused in a case registered by the economics offences wing, Mumbai, stated a press release issued by ATS.

Following specific information received by police inspector Daya Nayak, Juhu ATS unit laid a trap and arrested Sohel Yusuf Memon with 5.065 kilograms of Mephedrone worth ₹2.53 crore near Lallubhai Park, Andheri (West) on March 17. During interrogation, Memon said the contraband was given by Shah to deliver to a person in Mumbai, following which Shah was added as a wanted accused in the case.

Soon after the case was registered against him in March he fled from the city and constantly changed his location across various states like in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Juhu ATS officers started tracing Shah and after a month-long operation located him in Munirika village in Delhi. He was also constantly changing his looks to avoid arrest, said an officer.

He was produced in the court on Wednesday and remanded in ATS custody till August 25.