Nigerian national, one of the biggest suppliers held from Bandra in cruise drug bust case: NCB

Earlier on Wednesday, a Mumbai court sent four more persons, who were arrested in connection with a drug seizure on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast, to NCB custody till October 14. Photo Courtest: NCB Sources

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday arrested a foreign national from Mumbai's Bandra area in connection with the cruise ship raid case. According to the NCB, mephedrone (MD) in commercial quantity was recovered from his possession. "This is the 18th arrest in the cruise ship raid case," the official said.

He is a Nigerian national who is reportedly one of the biggest suppliers and is the international link in this case, says NCB. He will be produced in court today.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Mumbai court sent four more persons, who were arrested in connection with a drug seizure on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast, to NCB custody till October 14.

An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. Eight persons including Aryan Khan, Arbaz Seth Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha, Vikrant Chhoker, Ismeet Singh, Nupur Sarika, Gomit Chopra and Mohak Jaswal were produced before Mumbai's Esplanade Court on Monday which remanded them to NCB custody till October 7.

They were arrested on October 3 in connection with the drug seizure on the cruise ship. As per the NCB, three persons have been booked under Section 8C, 20B, 27 (Punishment for consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance) and 35 (Presumption of culpable mental state) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).

8C of NDPS Act refers to prohibition to produce, manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, transport, warehouse, use, consume, import inter-State, export inter-State, import into India, export from India or tranship any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance while Section 20B deals with punishment for producing, manufacturing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transportation, imports inter-State, exports inter-State or use of cannabis.

Also Read: Cruise organisers used availability of drugs to lure guests, says NCB

On Wednesday, making serious allegations against the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the arrest of Aryan Khan and others in connection with the Mumbai cruise raid case, the Nationalist Congress Party chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said that two private persons, including a BJP worker, were seen arresting the accused and the entire episode was stage-managed by the NCB.

To which the NCB replied that allegations levelled against the organisation are baseless and made with malafide intent. Indicating to the drugs case registered against Nawab Malik's son-in-law earlier this year, he added the allegations may also have been made by persons previously affected by legal action initiated by NCB.

(With inputs from ANI)