Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a striking case highlighting evolving methods of international drug trafficking, Indian police have arrested a 29‑year‑old Nigerian woman in the city of Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling cocaine concealed inside bread loaves. Authorities say the suspect presented herself as a student but did not enrol in any educational institution, and instead engaged in drug transport and distribution networks spanning India’s major cities.
The arrest occurred on Tuesday, December 23, when officers from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru City Police intercepted the suspect, identified as Olajide Esther Iyanuoluwa, as she arrived by private bus from Mumbai. Police, acting on specific intelligence, conducted a search of her belongings and uncovered 121 grams of cocaine — concealed by drilling holes into loaves of bread and hiding the drug within. The cocaine is estimated to have a street value of approximately ₹1.2 crore (about $145,000).
Investigators say that Olajide entered India in 2024 on a student visa and initially arrived in New Delhi. However, further inquiries revealed she did not register with or attend any Indian university, raising early questions about her stated purpose in the country. Instead, she moved frequently around the Mumbai metropolitan area, residing in neighbourhoods such as Ghatkopar (Gala Nagar), Ambawadi, and Nallasopara, where she is believed to have been involved in drug distribution activities.
According to senior police officers, Olajide allegedly sourced cocaine from an associate in Mumbai and was instructed to transport it personally to another Nigerian national in Bengaluru. This tactic, authorities believe, was designed to minimise scrutiny by avoiding any formal courier services that might trigger law enforcement alarms. On the day of her arrest, she was reportedly scheduled to meet a local drug peddler near Varthur, on the eastern outskirts of Bengaluru.
The CCB’s operation unfolded after a tip‑off alerted officers to Olajide’s travel plans. A surveillance team tracked her movements from Mumbai to Bengaluru, and upon interception, a detailed search of her backpack unearthed the concealed narcotics. Investigators noted that the unusual method of hiding drugs within everyday food items such as bread loaves signified a growing trend among smugglers adopting creative concealment techniques to evade detection by authorities.
Once taken into custody, Olajide provided information that led police to conduct a follow‑up operation near Varthur, where they discovered and arrested the intended recipient of the smuggled drugs. That individual, also a Nigerian national, was subsequently deported shortly after his arrest, according to police sources. Authorities have stated that the case is being examined under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, India’s primary legislation governing drug offences, and that further investigations are underway to map the wider supply chain and identify others involved in the network.
Senior officers involved in the case emphasised the challenge law enforcement faces as traffickers continually innovate, using ordinary items to disguise contraband. “This case shows how traffickers are constantly innovating ways, using common household items and food as cover,” one official said, noting that the CCB has stepped up surveillance of interstate drug movement and transit networks in response to such tactics.
Drug trafficking in India has long been a priority for both domestic police forces and national agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Over recent years, authorities have battled increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods, ranging from concealment in personal belongings to embedding narcotics in commercial goods and everyday items. The arrest of Olajide comes amid a broader pattern of drug busts across the country, many involving foreign nationals who exploit tourism, student visas, or transient labour pathways to mask illicit activities. International cooperation between Indian agencies and foreign law enforcement bodies has also increased, with cross‑border intelligence sharing becoming a key strategy in combating global drug supply chains.
Analysts watching transnational drug networks say the use of food and consumer products as smuggling concealments is part of a broader trend internationally, as traffickers seek to bypass heightened airport and postal screenings. Similar methods have been documented in other jurisdictions, where law enforcement has found contraband hidden in baked goods, packaged foods, and even hollowed‑out everyday objects. These techniques complicate detection efforts and require advanced screening technologies, canine units, and detailed intelligence to uncover.
The Bengaluru case has drawn attention not only to the methods used but also to the international dimension of the drug trade. India’s large population, expanding private transport networks, and bustling urban hubs make it both a consumer market and transit point for narcotics. Police say that private buses, long‑distance trains, and parcel networks are increasingly used for moving contraband across states, necessitating inter‑agency cooperation and targeted interventions based on credible tips and community intelligence.
In response to this latest arrest, police in Bengaluru have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on narcotics trafficking. Officers encourage members of the public to report suspicious activities and reaffirm that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found to be involved in the drug trade. Those convicted under the NDPS Act can face long prison sentences, heavy fines, and, in some cases, deportation for foreign nationals.
The case also raises broader questions about the misuse of student visas and the need for robust oversight of foreign students in the country. Immigration experts say that while most international students pursue legitimate academic goals, a minority may exploit the system for other purposes, underscoring the importance of rigorous verification and monitoring by educational and regulatory authorities.
As investigations continue, authorities in Bengaluru and beyond are focusing on unraveling the full extent of the network behind this smuggling attempt, with the hope of preventing future incidents and dismantling organised circuits that use unsuspecting methods to traffic illegal substances.
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