International drug baron Iqbal Mohammad Menon alias Iqbal Mirchi was detained by police in London yesterday.
In the wake of his arrest, Crime Branch officials have been gearing up with a list of cases registered against Mirchi across the country.

In the net: Iqbal Mirchi. FILE PIC

A top Crime Branch official, on condition of anonymity, said, "We can confirm that Mirchi has been detained in London, but we haven't received any official news. We are in communication with theu00a0 Interpol."

The drug baron Mirchi, who is a close associate of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, has been allegedly travelling on a Somalian passport. Earlier in 1998, he was detained in London with Dawood Haider Madia on the basis of an Interpol alert, but was released before the Indian government could deport him.

Mirchi started his career in crime as a small time thief at the docks in Mumbai. Soon, he started working with underworld dons like Karim Lala and Vardharajan Mudaliyar. Later he started helping his father in the spice business at Null Bazaar, South Mumbai. Subsequently, he joined Dawood's gang and acquired the nickname Mirchi.

After the 1993 bomb blasts, he was made an accused in the case. While on the run, Mirchi came in contact with an international drug cartel and eventually became a part of it.

According to a UN report, Mirchi is currently ranked among the top 50 global drug barons. In India there are several cases pending against the fugitive. His powerful network spans across various countriesu00a0-- UK, USA, Dubai, Canada, Pakistan, and Kenya.

Did you know?
>> u00a0Mirchi has been living in a large, detached, six-bedroom house in an exclusive part in the Essex town of Hornchurch, London, for the last 20 years.

>> In 2001, British Home Office granted him indefinite leave to remain in the country.

>> In July this year, Heena Kausar, wife of Mirchi, flew down to India from London, approaching the Bombay High Court to revoke an order to lift the seal on the two flats she owns in Juhu.