India secures return of drug kingpin Basoya from UAE

On August 14, 2026, the India — Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) secured the return of fugitive drug kingpin Virender Singh Basoya from the United Arab Emirates. Basoya, accused in a multi-crore cocaine syndicate, was brought back to India on Air India flight 4310 after sustained inter-agency coordination and international legal action. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the development on X, calling it a milestone in the government's zero-tolerance policy against narcotics. Basoya is accused in the Pune drug case involving narcotics worth Rs 6,000 crore and is linked to Sandeep Dhunia, the main accused in a India — Delhi Police drug case worth around Rs 13,000 crore. The NCB had earlier issued a Red Corner Notice against him, leading to his arrest in Dubai. His return follows a similar deportation of Mohammad Salim Dola from Turkey in April 2026 under 'Operation Global-Hunt'. The government is also reviewing the NDPS Act and has unveiled a three-year national strategy to dismantle drug trafficking networks.