Two Nigerians arrested for smuggling N5.86b drugs in India

The Delhi Police have announced the arrest of three individuals for drug smuggling in India, including two Nigerians.

The Indian Express reported on Sunday that the third person arrested is from Ghana.

“The Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested three drug traffickers with 8.04 kg of methamphetamine worth Rs 30 crore in the international market,” the report stated.

The Guardian reports the Rs 30 crore is worth around N5,862,075,600 in the Nigerian currency as of September 15, 2024.

According to the police, the three, along with their carriers, used to conceal drugs in the inner pockets of their bags and travel by road to Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad.

The drugs were allegedly distributed in the Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, and Greater Kailash areas of Delhi, while also being supplied to Mumbai and Bangalore through carriers, the police said.

All three accused, Abisola Deborah, 37, Samuel Dickson, 34, and Henshaw Victoria, 34, were residing illegally in India and had been involved in the racket for two years. Abisola and Samuel are from Nigeria, while Henshaw is from Ghana.

According to the report, the police received a tip-off on September 3, 2024, that a Nigerian woman would arrive at the Dhaula Kuan bus stand.

At about 7:25 am, Abisola was apprehended while trying to board a bus with a trolley bag.

The Delhi Police said methamphetamine, weighing 4.02 kg, was recovered from the bag.

“Abisola revealed that she procured the drugs from Samuel Dickson, a Nigerian man living in Govindpuri. He was then arrested from his rented flat in the Tughlakabad Extension with 2.120 kg of methamphetamine,” DCP (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said.

Dickson then revealed that he and Abisola were part of a drug cartel run by individuals of African origin in Delhi, the police said. Dickson also revealed that Henshaw Victoria, a woman from Ghana, was part of the gang.

“Henshaw was arrested from the same flat as Samuel’s on September 4, and 1.9 kg of methamphetamine was recovered from her,” DCP Kaushik added.

According to the police, none of the three individuals arrested had valid visas or passports, and as such, a case under the NDPS Act and the Foreigners Act has been registered against them.