New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has brought fugitive drug kingpin Virender Singh Basoya back to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to face trial in a multi-crore cocaine trafficking case. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the development in a post on X, saying the Modi government was committed to tracking down drug traffickers hiding abroad and dismantling their networks.

He said the NCB had secured Basoya’s return from the UAE as part of the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against narcotics.

Basoya emerged as a key accused in a major cocaine trafficking case involving drug seizures worth more than Rs 5,000 crore.

In October 2024, the Delhi Police Special Cell uncovered one of the biggest cocaine hauls in the country. Investigators later seized 200 kg of cocaine, while another 560 kg was recovered from a godown in Mahipalpur allegedly linked to prime accused Tushar Goyal.

Investigators believe the cocaine was packaged and repackaged at different locations to make it difficult for authorities to trace its source.

The origin of the cocaine remained unclear. Investigators suspect an international trafficking route involving Colombia and Mexico, with the drugs allegedly being moved through Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia before reaching India.

Officials have also ruled out the possibility that the entire consignment was brought directly from Pakistan, citing the large quantity involved. They are examining whether sophisticated packaging methods were used to avoid detection at airports and other checkpoints.

Investigators found that Tushar Goyal allegedly collected consignments from two locations in the National Capital Region.

Sources said Basoya was allegedly coordinating with Goyal through encrypted paid applications to discuss the movement and delivery of the consignments.

According to sources, the two were allegedly promised a share of the money generated from each consignment. Goyal was allegedly expected to receive around Rs 15 crore as his share.

Investigators believe the Mahipalpur godown and other locations in busy commercial areas were used to temporarily store and handle the cocaine while reducing the chances of detection.

The investigation is now focused on identifying the international cartel, its India-based handlers, the financial trail and the complete supply chain behind the major cocaine seizures.