India Arrests 4 Nigerians in Separate Anti-Narcotics Operations

At least four Nigerians have been arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations in India, with one of the suspects sustaining injuries after allegedly jumping from the sixth floor of a residential building while attempting to evade arrest.

The arrests were made in separate operations in Delhi and Goa as Indian authorities intensified efforts to dismantle suspected drug trafficking networks.

In Delhi, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested three Nigerian nationals during a raid on a residential apartment in Gandhi Colony, Mehrauli, South Delhi, following intelligence on alleged narcotics trafficking.

The suspects were identified as Ugochukwu Nwabugo, Gabriel Uchenna and Igwe Joshua.

According to the NCB, its operatives stormed the apartment on Monday night after receiving information about suspected drug-related activities. The agency alleged that occupants of the apartment attempted to destroy evidence by flushing narcotic substances down the toilet.

The NCB said its officers recovered 318 grammes of cocaine and six grammes of heroin during the operation. Traces of cocaine were also allegedly found on the walls of the apartment and on the bodies of some of the suspects.

The agency said Nwabugo allegedly attempted to escape by jumping from the sixth floor of the building during the raid.

She sustained injuries to her head, back and leg and was initially evacuated to Fortis Hospital before being referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre for specialised treatment.

The NCB said she was receiving treatment at AIIMS and was recovering from her injuries.

The agency added that investigations were continuing into the case.

In a separate operation in Goa, police arrested another Nigerian national, identified as Igwe Chinudde, in connection with the seizure of five kilogrammes of cannabis, locally known as ganja.

According to The Voice of Goa, Margao Police arrested Chinudde in Morjim as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected narcotics network.

The arrest reportedly followed the earlier arrest of Mohammad Azharuddin Nur Mohammad after police recovered five kilogrammes of cannabis during the investigation.

Investigators subsequently traced Chinudde’s alleged connection to the case, leading to his arrest.

Police said investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspected drug network and identify other individuals allegedly connected to the operation.

The latest arrests add to a series of anti-narcotics operations in India involving Nigerian nationals.

In June, a 41-year-old Nigerian woman reportedly died after allegedly jumping from the fourth floor of a residential building during a Delhi Police Anti-Narcotics Squad raid on a suspected synthetic drug manufacturing facility in Swaroop Nagar. Police reportedly recovered chemicals, laboratory equipment and suspected narcotic substances from the facility.

In 2017, another Nigerian national reportedly died after allegedly jumping from the fourth floor of a building in Chhatarpur during a Special Cell operation. Police said at the time that the suspect had attempted to evade arrest after noticing the raiding officers.