Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Indian police have arrested a Nigerian woman and a taxi driver in the northern state of Punjab after recovering 3.6 kilograms of heroin worth over 15 crore rupees (approximately N1.1 billion) during an intelligence‑led operation along the Amritsar‑Bathinda highway. The arrests occurred on the night of Friday, May 8, 2026, near the Goindwal bypass in Tarn Taran district. According to a statement by Senior Superintendent of Police Surender Lamba, the operation was carried out by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff under the supervision of Inspector Rupinderpal Singh. Acting on a specific tip‑off, police set up a checkpoint and intercepted a grey taxi. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 3.6 kilograms of heroin, a mobile phone, the taxi, and 1,500 rupees in cash suspected to be proceeds of drug sales. The two accused were identified as Bela, a native of Delta State, Nigeria, currently residing in Delhi, and Dalip Kumar, a taxi driver from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. According to police statements, Bela had originally come to India for studies but later became involved in the narcotics trade. Preliminary investigations revealed that Kumar was allegedly assisting the woman in transporting heroin for financial gain.
Senior Superintendent of Police Surender Lamba told reporters that the accused were suspected to be part of an international drug trafficking network linked to Pakistani smugglers. “Preliminary investigations revealed that Bela was allegedly part of an international drug trafficking network linked to Pakistani smugglers and was coordinating heroin consignments smuggled across the India‑Pakistan border for supply in Punjab, Delhi and other states,” Lamba said. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 21‑C of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the City Tarn Taran police station. The police have launched further investigations to trace the accused’s network and activities in the region.
The arrest is the latest in a string of drug‑related cases involving Nigerian nationals in India. In May 2026, a Nigerian national named Tochukwu Afame was arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine concealed inside blood pressure machines. Another two Nigerians were arrested the same month in separate incidents over alleged drug trafficking and immigration violations. In April 2026, authorities arrested Samuel Ikkena in Bengaluru over an alleged drug network involving MDMA, heroin and cannabis. Another Nigerian, Jacob Nnabuike Ugwu, was also arrested in Delhi for alleged MDMA trafficking. Earlier in 2026, Delhi Police arrested two Nigerian nationals and seized about 5 crore rupees worth of drugs, dismantling a trafficking syndicate linked to international suppliers. Police sources have indicated that Nigerian drug syndicates have emerged as a major challenge for Mumbai and Delhi police, with recent crackdowns exposing the scale of their operations. This latest seizure along the Amritsar‑Bathinda highway underscores the persistent challenge of cross‑border heroin smuggling into India, particularly through the porous Punjab border with Pakistan, where drones are frequently used to drop contraband into Indian territory. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the Border Security Force and Punjab Police intercepted over 330 kilograms of heroin along the border, nearly matching the record 2,021 kilograms seized in all of 2025. Officials say the region remains a key transit route for narcotics destined for markets across India. The Nigerian High Commission in India had not issued an official statement on the arrest at the time of this report. The two suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be produced in court.
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