Two Nigerians arrested in India as police seize cocaine worth N1 billion from drug syndicate

Indian police have arrested two Nigerian nationals after busting an international drug syndicate and seizing cocaine and other illicit substances valued at about N1 billion.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Delhi Police Crime Branch during coordinated raids in south and southwest Delhi.

Police said the operation led to the recovery of 418 grams of cocaine and 925 tablets of MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

The suspects were identified as Frank Vitus Ume, 47, and Sunday Otuu, 53.

Police said Ume, who was previously arrested in a narcotics case, had been supplying psychotropic substances across Delhi while frequently changing locations to evade arrest.

Following intelligence obtained from Ume, operatives traced the drugs to Otuu, who was arrested in the Mehrauli area of the Indian capital.

Harsh Indora, deputy commissioner of police (crime), said the arrests followed sustained technical and manual surveillance.

“The team launched technical and manual surveillance which enabled us to locate and apprehend the suspects,” Indora said.

Police said investigations revealed that the syndicate was allegedly controlled by a kingpin based in Nigeria, with drugs distributed through couriers.

They added that investigations into the wider network are ongoing.