Mass raids led by officials exposed gangs operating behind fronts of restaurants; repeat offenders were identified using biometrics
African nationals in the custody of Navi Mumbai Crime Branch during the massive crackdown
Navi Mumbai, once known as a hub for Africans of different nationalities allegedly running drug cartels from areas such as Kharghar and Ulwe, has seen a dramatic change over the past two years. A massive crackdown by the Navi Mumbai police, under Commissioner Milind Bharambe, has brought their presence down to almost zero. With a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, the police, through the combined efforts of the Crime Branch, local police, and the anti-narcotics cell have carried out several major raids, instilling fear among those involved in drug trafficking.
“At the beginning of 2023, a massive crackdown was launched against African nationals, mainly from Nigeria, who were residing in several localities, including Kharghar, Taloja and Ulwe, following numerous complaints from locals about drug-related issues,” a Crime Branch officer said.
The Navi Mumbai police then identified specific locations within these localities and discovered that a large Nigerian drug network was operating under the guise of “Nigerian kitchens” in Kharghar. These kitchens were being used as fronts for drug trafficking, where narcotics were distributed to facilitators and peddlers.
“We conducted multiple large-scale raids involving over 100 officials from the Crime Branch and local police. These operations specifically targeted the so-called African kitchens. During the raids, drugs were seized and several Nigerian nationals, along with their local operators, were apprehended,” said Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe while speaking to mid-day.
“We didn’t stop at just raids and arrests—we identified the entire network. Those with multiple cases were blacklisted using their biometrics with the help of the agencies concerned to ensure they couldn’t return to India. The strict actions and zero-tolerance approach to drugs adopted by the force are now yielding positive results,” Bharambe added.
“Many African nationals with similar appearances use different passports and simply change the photographs, making it difficult for agencies to determine whether it’s the same person or someone else. In several cases, individuals who were deported re-entered India using altered passports with edited photos created using sophisticated apps. Biometrics help us confirm identities, even when they attempt to change their appearance or use different documents,” said Ajaykumar Landge, ACP, Crime Branch.
According to official data from the Navi Mumbai Police, between 2023 and March 2025, around 1336 African nationals—mainly from Nigeria—were blacklisted using biometric identification, and subsequently deported. The data also reveals that during the same period, 2071 Nigerian nationals were arrested in connection with 1389 registered cases. As part of the ongoing crackdown, the Navi Mumbai Police seized approximately 621 kg of drugs, with an estimated value of R60 crore. The narcotics seized in the case have been destroyed.
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