In a joint operation by the Coast Guard and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, 23 tonnes of red sanders worth Rs 9 crore had been seized yesterday while it was being smuggled to Dubai through the sea route.
The two central agencies handed over the 20 persons involved in the smuggling to Mumbai Police Crime Branch which placed them under arrest yesterday.
"Today, we arrested their gang's kingpin Mohammed Ali Abu Bakar Shaikh," a crime branch officer said.
The arrangement was that MV Ganga Sagar and Al Marwan will meet at Bombay High to transfer the 23 tonnes highly valued illegal consignment.
Before the gang could execute the plan, the Coast Guard and the DRI nabbed them.
Accused Mohammed Ali had been earlier arrested in a murder case of another oil mafia and is suspected to have links with underworld gangs.