Sameer Wankhede - The Men At Work In Indian Bureaucracy : Interview : Part I

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

Here is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in Indian Bureaucracy who had been shaking up the world of criminals silently.

Meet Sameer Dyandev Wankhede ( Sameer Wankhede) whom you might be knowing still might not be knowing.

Many know that Sameer is an IRS Officer of 2008 batch but many don't know that Sameer is a sharpshooter and was also an officer of Intelligence Bureau.

Likewise, many don't know much more key details about Sameer.

In an interview to us, Sameer has shared to us some key details, starting from his personal life to some key operations he led.

This article will get you through all the details.

Early Life & Some Personal Details

Sameer was born and brought up in Mumbai. He completed his studies from Mumbai itself. He did his Honours in History. He also holds an LLB Degree.

In 2006, he cracked the the exam for Intelligence Bureau and joined as an officer.

Later in 2008, he cracked Civil Services Exam (UPSC CSE) and was allotted Indian Revenue Service (IRS).

Sameer is now happily married to Kranti Redkar Wankhede.

Professional Life

Posts he held and key Operations he led -

AIRPORT TENURE (ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS) 17/05/2010 to 14/06/2013

After his probation, he was posted as Assistant Commisioner of Customs, Air Intelligence Unit, C.S.I Airport Mumbai.

In this position -

On the basis of self intelligence, he told us, he booked around 3000 cases including 19 cases of seizure of various Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic substances viz. Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine etc.

The total quantity of the Narcotics Drugs and psychotropic substances seized during my tenure at C.S.I. Airport, Mumbai was 166 KGS. valued approx. at Rs. 383 Crs. (illicit International Market value).

CSI Airport noticed a drastic reduction in smuggling due to strict vigilance and preventive measures being implemented.

For the above all reason -

He received the Certificate of Appreciation awarded by the Chief Commissioners of Customs of Mumbai Zone-I/II&III in recognition of outstanding work and commendable contribution in the year 2011 on the occasion of International Customs Day held on 02/02/2011.

NIA TENURE (12/12/2013 to 30/06/2017)

During his tenure in the National Intelligence Agency (N.I.A.) at Mumbai as Addl. Supdt. of Police (NIA), Mumbai, he, on the basis of self intelligence, had busted various ISIS modules, seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and booked various syndicate involved in the smuggling of FICN, also busted the racket of the syndicates involved in the smuggling of illegal arms and ammunitions across India with seizures of smuggled arms and ammunitions.

Following are some of the major cases which were successfully investigated by him:

• Played crucial role in Dr. Zakir Naik case.

• Seizure of Fake Indian Currency Notes of Rs. 10 lakhs and apprehension of accused persons involved.

• Arrest of the Conservation Of Foreign Exchange And Prevention Of Smuggling (COFEPOSA) wanted accused Tanveer Pariyani (in joint operation with Marine Preventive Team).

• Arrest of 4 accused along with a consignment of 11 pistols, 22 live cartridges and cannabis from Lucknow, UP

• Arrest of wanted accused Nasir Khan in Bharuch double murder case RC No. 13/2015/NIA/DLI

• Tracing of suspected person who facilitated Hawala in Bharuch double murder case RC No. 13/2015/NIA/DLI

• Successful investigation done in connection with dealing of illegal trade of weapons case (in joint operation with MIDC Police Station) in highly professional manner. (MIDC Police Station LAC No. 169/2015, u/s 3, 25 Arms Act r/w 37(1)(A), 135 Mumbai Police Act). Intercepted and busted the weapons supplying gang and caught them with weaponry.

• Played a key role in investigations in connection with Bijnor Bomb Blast Case

• Valuable information collected regarding Dawood Ibrahim gang and prepared Dossier of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.

• Played very crucial role in operation against ISIS and ISIS Sympathisers.

• Conducted Joint operation on 28/10/2015 at Lucknow and seizure of illegal Arms and Ammunition i.e. 11 Indian made Pistol, 21 Magazines and 5 live Cartridges.

• Conducted joint operation with BSF at Murshidabad(WB) resulting into apprehension of 3 accused persons with the high quality FICN face value of Rs. 2,13,500/-.

• Developed Media Monitoring Cell at Mumbai for surveillance on the activities of ISIS and ISIS sympathisers.

During his tenure as the Addl. Supdt. Of Police, NIA, Mumbai, he told, he had received many Commendation Certificates from the D.I.G., N.I.A. and also the D.G. N.I.A.’s Commendation Rolls for excellent service rendered in N.I.A.

DRI TENURE – as Joint Director, DRI, Mumbai Zonal Unit ( 03/07/2017 to 30/08/2020): 

During his tenure as a Jt. Director of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai Zonal Unit, he told, he had booked various cases on self intelligence. 

After joining DRI in July, 2017 he booked three successive FICN cases apart from wild life cases. He ensured strict vigilance on commercial frauds and smuggling of gold, cigarettes etc.

Some of the major cases detected on self intelligence are -

Seizure of 16 MTs of Ganja, 13 MTs of Red Sanders, 8 MTs of Shark Fins, First case of seizure of 400 kgs. of Khat Leaves in India (After its ban), Fentanyl (a deadly synthetic opioid) case- first seizure of Fentanyl in India by any Law Enforcement Agency. 185 kgs. Gold seizure first in 50 years of DRI, Seizure of imported Dry Dates – imported from Pakistan by misdeclaring the country of origin, first after the Pulwama Attack.

• Based on specific intelligence received and further development - Kratom Leaf Extract (obtained from Mitrgyna Speciosa Tree – an opioid like substance) 34kgs. – including 3 Buddha statues used for concealment were seized by the US Customs & Border Protection at JFK Airport, New York on 08/10/2019. 

• The operation in the case of 185 Kgs. gold seizure in March 2019 was led by him. It'schallenging area of Dongri, Mumbai, he says. and it was the biggest gold seizure of DRI in last 50 years. It is one of the biggest gold smuggling case. Gold seized -185 Kgs. (value 60.89 Cr.) smuggled into India by concealing it in metal scrap. A quantity of 4522 Kgs valued at 1400 Crores were found to be smuggled by the syndicate in the past.

Meticulous investigation resulted in COFEPOSA detention orders for 15 persons and it stood the scrutiny of law till apex court level.  

 Also, he booked a case of “Shark Fins” wherein seizure of about 8 Tonnes which is biggest in the country. 

 • Red Sanders – seized 13 MTs of Red Sanders being smuggled in DRI, in the year 2018-19

• Seized a total of 318.5 kgs of smuggled gold on self intelligence in DRI.

• Seizure of 400 Kgs of Khat Leaves from APSO office, Mumbai on 13.07.2018. Khat Leaves mis-declared as Green Tea concealed in Boxes being smuggled through postal services from Ethiopia into India. Total Value was Rs. 8.13 Crores. This was first case of seizure of Khat leaves after imposition of ban in India.

• First seizure of imported dry dates from Pakistan after Pulwama attack- these goods were mis-declared.

NCB TENURE – as Zonal Director, NCB, Mumbai Zonal Unit (31/08/2020 to till date):

During his posting at Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai Zonal Unit, The Unit registered a record 125 cases during 30.08.2021 to till date on his information and under his direct supervision.

• Total 13 notorious gang neutralized - Chikna Gang, Pathan Gang, Karamjeet Gang , Patri Gang, Sultan Mirza Gang, Ibrahim Kaskar Gang, Hydroponic Weed (Arshad/ Javed) Gang, Tiger Mustafa Gang, Azam Jumman Gang, Bhandari Gang, Batata Gang, Zaid Rana LSD Gang and Sam Langda Gang.

• Total registered 125 cases and 280 persons were arrested during his posting.

Details of all his achievements - so far - in the career are given below: 

To add it all,

Sameer Wankhede is an trained Sharpshooter. He was trained by Bureau of Diplomatic Security US Department of State, North Carolina in Sharpooting.

He is also trained in Weapons of Mass Destruction by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA.  

This article doesn't contain any advertisements.

This article doesn't contain any advertisements. You can support our journalism by donating to our independent journalists initiatives. Tweet us at @abhisek_fh