Two Nigerians, Chima Ibe and Chimezie Lazarus, have been arrested in separate operations in India for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Ibe, 40, was picked up by Tulinj Police in Nalasopara East during an anti-narcotics raid on Monday.
Reports said he was caught with over one kilogram of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, valued at more than ₹2.08 crore (about N343m).
Police disclosed that the substance, concealed in transparent plastic bags, was seized alongside ₹34,500 (about N569,000) in cash from his apartment.
“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.
Ibe was subsequently booked under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and remanded in custody after his arrest.
In another operation, Delhi’s Crime Branch dismantled a drug syndicate, leading to the arrest of three persons, including Lazarus, 35, who resides in the Indian capital. Police said 194 grams of cocaine worth about ₹2.25 crore (N371m) were recovered from the suspects.
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.”
During interrogation, the duo named a Nigerian, identified as Zudo, as the supplier. He was arrested in Mehrauli on September 10 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 revealed that Zudo, who reportedly came to India for medical treatment in January 2023, turned to drug trafficking due to financial difficulties and later ran a distribution network across several Indian cities.