Two Nigerian nationals were arrested in separate incidents in India this week for cocaine trafficking, local authorities reported.

In Hyderabad, a Nigerian woman was arrested on Friday after excise officials seized 7.5 grams of cocaine from her possession.

According to the Times of India, the district task force of the excise department acted on information that she had arrived from Mumbai, Maharashtra State, to sell drugs in the city.

Officials intercepted her near Paradise, a central neighbourhood in Hyderabad, shortly after her arrival.

“On checking her belongings, officers found five packets containing a total of 7.5 grams of cocaine. The substance was confirmed to be cocaine, following which she was taken into custody,” the report stated.

The report added, “The woman had reached the area in an autorickshaw (three-wheeler taxi) and was waiting to deliver the consignment to an unidentified person.”

Preliminary inquiry revealed that she “had procured the cocaine in Mumbai for ₹15,000 (around N1.8 million) and planned to sell it in Hyderabad at a higher price,” according to officials.

A case has been registered against her under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and further investigation is underway. Authorities are probing the source of the drug and her network.

In New Delhi, a Nigerian man, John Chibuike, 35, was arrested in Mehrauli after police seized 1 kilogram of high-quality cocaine, the Times of India reported.

Police said the arrest targeted a Nigerian national allegedly running a cocaine supply syndicate across the national capital.

“Acting on intelligence regarding a Nigerian national engaged in cocaine trafficking, police teams initiated manual and technical surveillance. The suspect was tracked to his residence in Islam Colony, Mehrauli, where a raid was conducted, leading to his arrest and the seizure of narcotics,” the report stated.

Police sources revealed that Chibuike had a prior record under the NDPS Act, with involvement in a 2022 case.

“The police recovered 1 kg of high-quality cocaine from his possession, dealing a major blow to the drug supply network operating in South and South-East Delhi,” the report added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Anant Mittal, said that further investigation is underway to dismantle the entire drug syndicate. Authorities are working to trace the supply chain, identify associates, and examine potential links to interstate and international networks. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act at Mehrauli Police Station.

This follows a similar incident in Bengaluru (Bangalore), Karnataka State, reported by Punch Online three days ago. A Nigerian, Samuel Ikkena, 44, was apprehended by the Yelahanka police for allegedly running a major MDMA (ecstasy) distribution network.

According to the report, Ikkena “procured MDMA near Bannerghatta for Rs 50,000 (around N3.5 million) and sold it at higher rates through a structured illegal network.” Authorities recovered MDMA crystals worth about Rs 2 crore (over N290 million) from him. (The PUNCH)

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