Connect with us
Sunday,23-August-2026
Breaking News

Crime

Mumbai’s Lady Drug Mafia: The Shadowy ‘Queenpins’ Running The Narcotics Network

Published

on

Mumbai: A city known for glamour, glitter, and dreams is silently being consumed by the dark underbelly of the drug trade. The most shocking revelation in recent years has been the rise of the “Lady Drug Mafia”, a network of women emerging as masterminds behind major narcotics operations in the city.

Police investigations have revealed that the drug trade is no longer dominated by male criminals alone. Instead, women are now operating as key players  handling finances, supply chains, courier networks, and high-level communication for drug syndicates. While the male mafia leaders remain hidden, these women are pushed forward as the face of the operation to evade police suspicion.

Sources indicate that drug syndicates deliberately use women because society and police tend to be less suspicious of them. Housewives, high-profile women, models, bar dancers, and even social media influencers are being used as carriers and distributors. Airports, railway stations, and hotels have become key nodes for drug delivery.

Police also found that crores of rupees made from drug sales were being funnelled into women’s bank accounts. These funds were then laundered through luxury cars, flats, fake companies, and digital transactions. Many “queenpins” negotiated drug deals themselves and communicated directly with international suppliers.

In several cases, once a male kingpin was arrested, his wife, sister, mother, or girlfriend took total control of the network. The business was run using encrypted apps, code words, fake identities, and burner phones, making detection extremely challenging.

Investigators discovered that many drug traffickers use their female relatives to conceal assets and operations. Vehicles, storage units, SIM cards, and even entire supply routes are registered in women’s names. Since society rarely doubts women, this cover is actively exploited by drug syndicates.

In slum pockets across Mumbai, women couriers have been delivering drugs disguised as domestic workers or service staff. Some women independently handle finances, logistics, and customer communication.

This has become a major headache for Mumbai Police. Identifying female masterminds, gathering evidence, and proving their involvement in court requires deeper surveillance and complex investigation. Yet, in recent months, several high-profile women have been arrested, exposing their roles in major drug operations.

The Crime Branch Unit 7 arrested Parveen Bano Gulam Sheikh from a Kurla slum with 641 grams of mephedrone and Rs.12 lakh in cash. Her interrogation revealed direct links to international drug mafia operatives Salim Sheikh and Salim Dola.

Following her arrest, police busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Sangli, seizing 122.5 kg of MD worth Rs.245 crore  one of the biggest drug hauls in Maharashtra.

Pydhonie Police seized heroin worth Rs.36.72 crore and arrested

Rubina Mohammed Syed Khan, Shabnam Sheikh, and Muskan Samrul Sheikh, along with their associates. Investigations revealed their link to drug routes from Pakistan, trafficked into India via Rajasthan. The women acted as key distributors with support from a larger mafia network.

 Shabina Khan (Kurla)

Arrested with drugs worth Rs.50 lakh. After her husband Sarfaraz was externed, she took charge of operations, managing 20–25 peddlers.

Arrested in a 2025 crackdown. Her husband was jailed earlier, after which she brought her nephew Adnan from UP to continue MD distribution. This case marked the first-ever use of MCOCA on a drug trafficking network in Maharashtra.

Arrested in 2021 with drugs worth ₹73 lakh. She continued operations while her husband was in jail for murder.

A 21-year-old who sold drugs through Instagram. NCB arrested her after she evaded them for three months.

Known for running a drug racket from a slum pocket in Worli.

Accused of handling hawala networks and drug fund transfers under the guise of a travel agency.

Police also uncovered warehouses, vehicles, and bank accounts registered in the names of women like Shabana Sheikh, Farzana Ansari, and Asha Kamble, used for the storage and movement of narcotics.

The role of women in the Mumbai drug mafia is no longer supportive  many are acting as masterminds, running operations while male operatives stay in the shadows. Mafia syndicates believe women can evade law enforcement more easily, leading to them being pushed to the frontlines of trafficking.

For Mumbai Police, this growing trend is a serious challenge. Female suspects need increased scrutiny as they are no longer merely passive participants but active drivers of narcotics networks.

This dark business is not just a law-and-order issue but a threat to the future of young people. Whether women are coerced into crime or willingly choosing this path for easy money, the impact on society is severe.

The exposure of these “lady drug mafia” networks is a wake-up call  not just for police, but for society at large. Crime has no gender, and the law applies equally to all. This is the message behind the recent crackdowns.

Crime

Man hacked to death by bike-borne men at traffic signal in Bengaluru

Published

on

Bengaluru, Aug 23: An incident in which a man was hacked to death in full public view at a traffic signal near the Madiwala underpass came to light on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over the safety of residents in Bengaluru.

The victim, identified as Suhail, a resident of Mangammanapalya and a medical shop owner, was attacked by a group of assailants as he was on his way from Madiwala towards Koramangala on Saturday night.

The incident occurred late at night when Suhail had stopped his motorcycle amid a traffic jam on the main road. Four men who arrived on two motorcycles allegedly attacked him with swords before fleeing the spot. Suhail suffered severe blood loss and died at the scene.

Police suspect that the murder could be an act of revenge linked to an earlier murder case in Bandepalya.

On January 13, a man named Shabbir was murdered in Bandepalya, and Suhail’s brothers Kaleem, Nazir and another brother were allegedly involved in that case. Investigators suspect that Suhail may have been targeted in retaliation, despite having no connection with the Shabbir murder case.

Police sources said Suhail had no criminal background and was not an accused in the earlier case. His murder is therefore suspected to have been driven by hostility towards his brothers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Mohammad Sujeetha, CCB DCP Haribabu and Joint Commissioner of Police Ramesh Banoth visited the crime scene and inspected the spot.

Following the murder, Suhail’s younger brother Nazir reportedly arrived at the scene and vowed revenge. He said Suhail was not merely his elder brother but was like a father to him, and warned that he would not spare those responsible for his killing.

Police suspect that the assailants had been planning the murder for several days and had been closely monitoring Suhail’s movements. According to preliminary information, the attackers allegedly followed him and executed a pre-planned attack while he was travelling on his motorcycle.

After the murder, the assailants reportedly abandoned the weapons at the scene and escaped.

Three special teams have been formed to track down the suspects. Police have seized the CCTV DVR from the area and are examining footage to identify the attackers and trace their movements before and after the crime.

Investigators are also trying to establish why Suhail, who lived in Mangammanapalya and operated a medical shop in Bommanahalli, travelled towards Madiwala. Police are examining who last contacted him before he left the medical shop and other details surrounding his movements.

The brazen murder in a busy public area has triggered concerns over safety in the city, particularly as the attackers allegedly assaulted the victim in front of members of the public before fleeing the scene. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the exact motive and identify all those involved.

When asked whether any accused have been arrested in connection with the case, DCP South East Mohammad Sujeetha declined to comment. Further investigation is on.

Continue Reading

Crime

Shillong violence: Army, RAF conduct flag march as Assam-Meghalaya tensions persist

Published

on

Shillong, Aug 23: Security was intensified across Shillong as the Army and Rapid Action Force (RAF) conducted a flag march in the Meghalaya capital following violence during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) rally on August 19, officials said.

The security buildup came on Saturday amid heightened tensions after vehicles carrying tourists from Assam were allegedly attacked during a KSU black-flag protest.

Several vehicles were vandalised, with their windows and windshields smashed, while some tourists were reportedly injured.

Public property was also damaged during the violence.

The Centre has approved the deployment of five companies of central armed forces in Meghalaya to assist the state police in maintaining law and order amid the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar held a high-level meeting with senior officials of both states in Guwahati on Saturday to assess the situation and discuss steps to prevent further escalation.

The meeting came against the backdrop of tensions following the Shillong violence and protests at Jorabat, the key entry point between Assam and Meghalaya.

Bora termed the Shillong incident “unwarranted and unfortunate” and said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had acted promptly after the violence.

He said Assam CM Sarma spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who subsequently asked Dhar to engage with Assam and explore measures to restore peace and ensure smooth movement between the neighbouring states.

Bora appealed to the people in both states to maintain peace and harmony, stressing the longstanding ties between Assam and Meghalaya.

The Shillong incident triggered protests by motor vehicle workers’ unions in Assam.

Demonstrations at Jorabat began the following day, with protesters stopping Meghalaya-registered vehicles from entering Assam and, in some cases, forcing them to turn back.

The protests continued for a third day on Friday, with demonstrators seeking compensation for vehicles damaged in Shillong and an apology from the authorities.

Heavy deployment of police and reserve personnel was made at Jorabat to prevent any fresh violence.

Three senior KSU office-bearers — president Raymond Kharjana, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar — were arrested late Wednesday in connection with the violence.

The situation has also prompted sharper reactions in Assam.

The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) called for an economic blockade and warned of action against Meghalaya residents in Assam if attacks on Assamese people in Shillong continued.

With additional security forces deployed in Shillong and police maintaining a strong presence at Jorabat, authorities in both states are now working to contain tensions, prevent retaliatory incidents and ensure uninterrupted movement of people and vehicles.

Continue Reading

Crime

Delhi Police arrest three in illicit liquor supply case

Published

on

New Delhi, Aug 22: In a major crackdown on the illegal transportation and supply of liquor, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) team of the North-East District of Delhi Police arrested three persons and recovered 778 quarters of Haryana-marked illicit liquor along with two taxis allegedly used to transport the consignment.

The action was carried out on August 21, 2026, after Head Constable Deepak, along with Head Constable Anuj and Constable Mukesh, was conducting area patrolling duty near Maujpur Chowk.

At around 6:30 a.m., the police team received information from a secret informer that two taxis carrying illicit liquor from Haryana would arrive near Seelampur Metro Station. The taxis’ numbers were also shared by the informer.

Acting on the information, the police team reached the location. At around 7:30 a.m., both taxis arrived and were intercepted. Three persons were apprehended, while another individual reportedly managed to flee from the spot.

A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of 399 quarters of illicit liquor from taxi HR55AX3345 and 379 quarters from taxi DL1ZD5015, taking the total recovery to 778 quarters.

The arrested accused have been identified as Vinit Chauhan (35), owner of taxi bearing number — HR55AX3345; Akash Sharma (25), driver of taxi bearing number — DL1ZD5015; and Vishal (23), who was allegedly accompanying the other accused.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed information about the source of the illicit liquor. Police are verifying the information and conducting further investigation to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the supply chain.

A case has been registered as FIR No. 288/26 under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act at Seelampur Police Station. Police said none of the three arrested accused has any previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway, according to police.

Continue Reading

Trending