Crime and Criminals

‘Smuggler’ Gacchi held in dhow case

S Ahmed Ali TNN

April 21, 2013

Mumbai: The Yellow Gate police have arrested Usman Gani alias Gacchi, the south Mumbai businessman allegedly behind the smuggling of electronic goods, cigarettes and 32 rare goats from Dubai on a dhowthatwascapturedoff the coastearlier this month.
    Gacchi was booked under Indian Telegraphic Act, Cruelty to Animals Act, Maharashtra Anti-Tobacco Act and for cheating, forgery and smuggling. Produced before a magistrate’s court, he was remandedin policecustody.
    “Gacchi, a resident of Minara Masjid area, is an old-time smuggler,” a policeofficer said. “He gets cigarettes and electronic goods for sale at Manish Market and Crawford Market. Owning pets is his hobby—he even has a horse—and that is why he got goatsfrom Dubai.”
    MSV Yusufi, a Gujarat-registered dhow that had the contraband on board, was seized by the police in a joint operation withthecoast guard.The dhow had come under suspicion after its crew spoke to their Dubai handlers over the banned Thuraya satellite phone that was used by the 26/ 11terrorists.
    The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is also likely to interrogate Gacchi. “We are sending a team to question Gacchi,” ATS chief RakeshMaria said.
    The police also summoned Yusufi owner Romi Iqbal Hassan, a Kutch resident.