Two Nigerians Arrested In India For Drug Trafficking

Indian authorities have arrested two Nigerians and an Indian in what they called “an Indo-Nigerian drug network” that sourced synthetic drugs from France, for supply in Chennai and Bengaluru (India).

According to a report in Hindu.com, the two Nigerian nationals are 36-year-old Kingsley Obumenem, and 38-year-old Azuka Alloysius. The Indian was named as 45-year-old M. Srinivasan. All three were booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS)Act and remanded to judicial custody on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

A suspected consignment from France was intercepted by the officers at a foreign post centre in the Chennai airport premises, on October 21, 2023. On opening the consignment, officers found 3,890 MDMA tablets, (weighing 1.583 kg) which are psychotropic substances. The drug, colloquially known as Ecstasy, is popular with a section of teenagers and young adults, the sleuths said.

P. Aravindhan, Zonal Director of NCB, Chennai, said the investigation had revealed that the Nigerian nationals had procured the MDMA tablets from abroad and distributed them among users in Bengaluru and Chennai.

The Indo-Nigerian networks supply synthetic drugs like cocaine, MDMA, LSD and amphetamine in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi, officers said. In all, 15 persons including three Indians and 12 foreign nationals have been arrested so far this year in connection with the busts. Overall, 1.615 kg of cocaine, 1.9 kg of MDMA tablets, 30 blots of LSD and 1.008 kg of amphetamine have been seized by the NCB so far.