Two Nigerians have been arrested in India in separate anti-drug operations and are now facing trial for alleged trafficking of hard drugs.
The first suspect, 40-year-old Chima Ibe, was arrested by the Tulinj Police in Nalasopara East during a late-night operation on Monday.
According to The Free Press Journal, Ibe, who lived in Pragatinagar, Nalasopara, was found with more than one kilogram of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), also known as meth, worth over ₹2.08 crore (about N343 million).
Police said the drugs were hidden in transparent plastic bags in 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.
The operation was carried out around 12:30 a.m. by a team led by API Sunil Pawar and PSI Dilip Ghuge after a tip-off. Ibe was charged under Sections 8(c) and 21(c) of India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and remanded in custody.
In another case, the Delhi Crime Branch said it busted a drug trafficking ring and arrested three suspects, including 35-year-old Nigerian, Chimezie Lazarus, who was living in Delhi.
According to NDTV on September 12, police recovered 194 grams of cocaine worth ₹2.25 crore (about N371 million) from the group.
A police officer said, “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.”
The search led to the recovery of 54 grams of cocaine from Kadir and 31 grams from Wadhwa. During interrogation, they named a Nigerian known as Zudo as their supplier.
Following the lead, police raided Mehrauli on September 10 and arrested Zudo with another 109 grams of cocaine.
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 said Zudo came to India in January 2023 for medical treatment but turned to drug trafficking after facing financial difficulties. He allegedly built a drug network across Delhi, Gurugram, Meerut, Chandigarh, and Haldwani, using former taxi drivers Kadir and Wadhwa as couriers for about ₹1,000 per delivery.
These arrests add to a growing number of Nigerians caught for drug-related crimes in India. On September 12, eight Nigerians were also arrested by police in Kozhikode City for similar offences.
