Operatives of the Indian Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau have arrested a Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, popularly known as Maxwell, for alleged drug trafficking
It was learnt on Wednesday that the 34-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday in the Sainikpuri area of Hyderabad. He reportedly confessed to earning over Rs Rs1.17 crore (approximately $145,636) in commissions after trafficking drugs worth several crores over more than a decade in India.
According to a report by The Hindu, an Indian news outlet, officers of the Bureau seized 150 grams of high-purity cocaine, branded in underground drug markets as “celebrity cocaine,” alongside 1,100 ecstasy pills.
The Director of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, Sandeep Shandilya, said Maxwell was believed to be a key player in a larger West African drug cartel operating across India.
“He entered the country using fake identities and forged passports and had been operating primarily from Goa before moving to Hyderabad in a bid to expand the cartel’s network,” Shandilya stated.
Shandilya added that Maxwell had entered India on three different occasions, beginning in 2013.
“He initially came on a medical visa under false pretences and never visited the hospital or city mentioned in his documents. Instead, he joined his cousin and alleged cartel boss, Romey, in Goa,” Shandilya disclosed.
Romey, who is reportedly operating from Nigeria, is said to control the cartel’s activities remotely, using Maxwell and other foot soldiers to manage local deliveries and supply chains.
“During his time in India, Maxwell operated using burner phones, moved frequently to avoid detection, and laundered his earnings through a wide network of Nigerian bank accounts and Indian hawala routes.
“After exhausting the Goa market, the cartel directed Maxwell to scout Hyderabad, citing rising demand,” Shandilya explained.
The report further revealed that Maxwell arrived in Hyderabad in early 2025 and began establishing a local distribution network.
He was eventually arrested at a friend’s residence in Sainikpuri, where the police recovered the narcotics, two mobile phones containing transaction data, and photographs of previous consignments.
The police said Maxwell sold cocaine at Rs25,000 per gram and ecstasy pills at Rs6,000 apiece.
Data extracted from his devices, according to the report, revealed over 150 bank transactions involving Nigerian financial institutions such as GT Bank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint MFB.
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Hon. Chief C.O.C Akaolisa gets justice". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
