Indian police have arrested a Nigerian man, identified as Ezeaputa Chijioke, for allegedly supplying cocaine to club-goers and partygoers across the country.
Chronicle NG gathered from a report published by The Times of India on Tuesday that the suspect was arrested on October 6 with approximately 70.5 grammes of cocaine and allegedly relied on intermediaries to distribute the drug.
The report stated that three suspected drug dealers were arrested with a total of 113 grammes of cocaine and an ATM card during a crackdown on a drug supply network operating in Chandigarh and the tricity area.
According to the report, the police said the operation started on October 4, when officers arrested Rakesh Kumar, also known as Karan, near the Sector 23-C market and recovered 22.1 grammes of cocaine from him.
“During interrogation, he named Jaskaran Gill as his supplier. Jaskaran was arrested in Dehradun the same day,” the police reportedly said.
Gill allegedly revealed that he had obtained the cocaine from Chijioke, who was later arrested on October 6 with approximately 70.5 grammes of the substance.
The report further stated that Chijioke was unable to produce his passport and was allegedly residing illegally in India.
Police said Kumar, a private cab driver, delivered cocaine to club-goers and partygoers on Gill’s instructions, earning Rs 500 for every delivery.
Gill allegedly obtained the drug from Chijioke and arranged deliveries through Kumar, receiving payments via QR codes and online platforms.
Police reportedly recovered 21.30 grammes of cocaine, a Mercedes-Benz, a Mitsubishi Pajero, a Tata Safari and an SBI ATM card allegedly connected to financial transactions from Gill.
The report also stated that the three vehicles were believed to have been bought with proceeds from drug trafficking.
Chijioke, who had been residing in Kharar, allegedly supplied Gill with cocaine.
It was gathered that police said investigations into the case were still underway.
The arrest occurred less than three months after four Nigerian nationals were arrested in India for allegedly being involved in a drug trafficking network, during a series of operations in which narcotics worth approximately Rs 15 crore, or about N2.1bn, were reportedly recovered.
The Hindu reported that the arrests came after coordinated operations by the Narcotics Control Bureau, state police, and other security agencies aimed at foreign nationals suspected of drug trafficking and overstaying their visas.
