Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 15: Customs officials have arrested a businessman and a clearing agent for allegedly attempting to export a regulated chemical without obtaining the mandatory clearance from authorities.

The accused, identified as Kinjal Shah and Deepak Raikar, were taken into custody under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Authorities claim the duo tried to ship a controlled substance without securing a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Narcotics Commissioner of the Central Bureau of Narcotics.

The chemical involved, 1-Boc-4-Piperidone, is a key precursor used in the production of synthetic drugs. It is listed as a controlled substance under the NDPS (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order, 2013, which was recently updated in 2025.

During court proceedings, defence lawyers Aditya Talpade and Gurav Parkar argued that their clients had been wrongly implicated and requested judicial custody. The court subsequently remanded both accused to judicial custody.

Officials indicated that the case highlights ongoing efforts to curb the illegal export of sensitive chemical compounds that can be misused in narcotics manufacturing.