Mumbai’s Repeat Offender Jafar Khan Smuggled Hybrid Cannabis Hidden in Children’s Toys

SURAT. International drug networks are continuously being uncovered in Surat, a city globally recognized for its diamond and textile industries. In this latest development, police and security agencies have exposed a major syndicate at Surat Airport.

Notorious 56-year-old repeat offender Jafar Akbar Khan from Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly smuggling 4.035 kilograms of hybrid cannabis hidden inside children’s toy boxes from Bangkok. Investigation officers were stunned when they reviewed Jafar’s travel history.

Over the past 3 years, he made a total of 28 international trips – visiting Dubai and Bangladesh 6 times each, Thailand and Oman 2 times each, along with travels to countries like Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Bahrain, and Hong Kong.

The investigation revealed that he previously smuggled mobile phones, laptops, gold, and e-cigarettes, but joined the drug network for higher profits and quickly became a trusted carrier for the international syndicate.

The most shocking aspect is that Jafar wasn’t working alone – his entire family was involved in this business. His second wife, Busra Begum, was caught at Bangalore Airport in June 2025 with 7 kilograms of hybrid cannabis.

She is currently serving her prison sentence. The husband and wife would transport goods through different airports and on separate flights to reduce the risk of being caught.

Police officials explained that Jafar packed the drugs in such a way that scanners couldn’t detect them. The packaging in children’s toy boxes, carbon-coated wrappers, plastic rolls, along with cigarettes and gold foil disrupted the scanner images.

Externally, it appeared as if a father was bringing toys from abroad, while inside was hidden high-quality ‘hydro weed’. Jafar was never told who would receive the drugs. He was only given a codeword and a photo of the recipient.

After exiting the airport, he would identify the person from the photo and only hand over the goods after matching the codeword. This made it difficult to reach the main kingpins.

Jafar received between 25,000 to 1 lakh rupees per trip. The Surat journey was considered higher risk, so the fixed payment was ₹2,00,000 plus ₹50,000 per kilogram commission (4 kg = ₹2 lakh extra).

The seized hydro weed is valued at 1.41 crore rupees. The captured cannabis wasn’t ordinary – it was hydro weed grown without soil, containing very high THC levels. International price: ₹35 lakh per kilogram, total value for 4.035 kg: over ₹1.41 crore.

Jafar has several serious criminal cases registered against him previously in Mumbai, including assault, theft, and intimidation cases from 2009 and 2012 at Trombay and MIDC police stations.

There are suspicions of connections with Bangladesh networks in drug smuggling. This operation marks a major success for ‘Drug-Free Surat’ initiative. The action was conducted jointly by Surat Crime Branch, SOG, Customs Department, and CISF. Police stated this arrest is a significant step toward dismantling international drug networks.

Surat Airport

Surat Airport, also known as Surat International Airport, is a domestic and international airport serving the city of Surat in Gujarat, India. Its history is marked by a significant modern transformation, evolving from a small domestic terminal to a major airport with a new integrated terminal inaugurated in 2018. This development has positioned it as a key aviation gateway for the diamond and textile hub of Surat.

Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a major port city on India’s west coast and the financial capital of the country. It originated as a collection of seven islands that were home to fishing communities before coming under Portuguese and later British colonial rule, which developed its iconic infrastructure and trade economy. Today, it is a bustling metropolis famous for its Bollywood film industry, Victorian-era architecture like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and vibrant street life.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the vibrant capital of Thailand, founded in 1782 by King Rama I as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The city is renowned for its ornate temples and palaces, such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, which reflect its deep history as the center of Thai monarchy and culture.

Dubai

Dubai is a modern metropolis and emirate in the United Arab Emirates, historically known as a small fishing and pearling village. Its rapid transformation began with the discovery of oil in the 1960s, but it has since strategically diversified its economy into global trade, tourism, and finance. The city is now world-famous for its futuristic skyline, luxury shopping, and ambitious landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a South Asian country formed in 1971 after a war of independence from Pakistan. Its history is deeply rooted in the Bengal region, with a rich cultural heritage spanning ancient kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, and British colonial rule. The country is renowned for its vibrant traditions, including its annual celebration of Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh), its world-famous muslin fabric, and the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest on Earth.

Thailand

Thailand is a Southeast Asian nation with a rich history dating back to the 13th-century Sukhothai Kingdom, followed by the powerful Ayutthaya Kingdom. It is unique in the region for never having been colonized by a European power. The country is renowned for its ornate Buddhist temples, vibrant street food culture, and popular tropical beaches.

Oman

Oman is a nation on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula with a rich history as a major maritime trading power from the 17th century onwards. Its cultural identity is deeply rooted in Ibadism, a distinct form of Islam, and is visible in its many historic forts, such as those in Nizwa and the capital, Muscat. Today, the country is known for its stunning natural landscapes, from deserts and mountains to a long coastline, and for its unique tradition of pursuing a moderate, independent foreign policy.

Bangalore Airport

Bangalore Airport, officially known as Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), opened in 2008 to replace the city’s older HAL Airport. It is named after Kempegowda, the 16th-century founder of Bangalore. The airport has since become a major aviation hub in South India, with a modern, award-winning Terminal 2 that opened in phases starting in 2022.