At least two Nigerians, Chima Ibe and Chimezie Lazarus, are facing trial in India after being arrested in separate operations for alleged drug trafficking, PUNCH Metro reports.
The 40-year-old Ibe was arrested by the Tulinj Police in Nalasopara East during a major anti-narcotics operation on Monday.
According to The Free Press Journal, Ibe, who was a resident of Pragatinagar, Nalasopara, was found in possession of over one kilogram of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, valued at more than ₹2.08 crore (about N343m).
The police said the contraband, concealed in transparent plastic bags, was seized from his apartment along with ₹34,500 (about N569,000) in cash.
“The seized substance was confirmed as meth, which is sold for around ₹20,000 (about N330,000) per gram in the black market,” officers said.
A police team led by API Sunil Pawar and PSI Dilip Ghuge carried out the operation around 12:30 a.m. following a tip-off.
Ibe was subsequently booked under Sections 8(c) and 21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, arrested, and remanded in custody.
In a separate case, the Delhi Crime Branch busted a narcotics racket, arresting three people, including another Nigerian, 35-year-old Lazarus, who was living in Delhi.
According to NDTV on September 12, police recovered 194 grams of cocaine worth ₹2.25 crore (about N371m) from the suspects.
A police officer explained, “On September 6, police received a tip-off that Wadhwa and Kadir were about to deliver a consignment of cocaine in Rohini. Accordingly, a trap was laid, and both the accused were caught red-handed.”
A search revealed 54 grams of cocaine with Kadir and 31 grams with Wadhwa. During interrogation, they allegedly named a Nigerian identified as Zudo as the supplier.
Acting on this information, police raided Mehrauli on September 10 and arrested him with another 109 grams of cocaine in his possession.
The officer added, “The accused doesn’t have any previous criminal record. Effort is on to trace the wider network, its financial links, and possible international connections.”
Police disclosed that Zudo came to India in January 2023 for medical treatment but turned to drug trafficking due to financial difficulties.
He allegedly ran a distribution network in Delhi, Gurugram, Meerut, Chandigarh, and Haldwani, using former taxi drivers Kadir and Wadhwa as couriers, each paid about ₹1,000 per delivery.
These arrests add to a growing list of drug trafficking cases involving Nigerians in India.
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