New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested five alleged drug traffickers, including three foreigners, and claimed to have busted an interstate syndicate operating in the Delhi-NCR region, recovering heroin and MDMA worth around Rs 12 crore, an officer said on Saturday.
The accused have been identified as Nigerian nationals Moris Okalie (52) and Ibegbu Chigozie Samuel (50), Ghanaian national Emmanuel (38), and Delhi residents Sameer (28) and a woman identified as Lady (36), police said.
The Crime Branch said the team was developing intelligence on drug traffickers when it received specific information that Okalie, allegedly involved in wholesale and retail trafficking of heroin and MDMA, would arrive near a hospital in Shahdara during the intervening night of July 19 and 20 to deliver a drug consignment.
“A trap was laid, and Okalie was apprehended while carrying a black shoulder bag. A search of the bag led to the recovery of 2.004 kg of heroin and 863 grams of MDMA,” a senior police officer said. A case was subsequently registered at the Crime Branch police station.
During the investigation and police custody remand of Okalie, Emmanuel and Samuel were arrested from Chander Vihar, Nilothi, on July 23 at the instance of the former. Police recovered 254 grams of heroin from Samuel and 14 grams of MDMA from Emmanuel.
Two more accused, Sameer and Lady, were arrested on July 31. Sameer was apprehended from Shalimar Garden in Ghaziabad, and 300 grams of heroin was recovered from him, while Lady was arrested from Paschim Vihar, police said.
According to police, the accused were involved in procurement, storage, transportation and distribution of heroin and MDMA through an organised network of associates across Delhi-NCR.
Okalie, a Nigerian national, came to India in 2020 and was residing in Chander Vihar, Nilothi Extension. Police said his Indian visa had expired and he was overstaying in the country. He had earlier been arrested in a 2024 case under the Foreigners Act at Nihal Vihar police station.
Samuel, a Nigerian national who has been residing in India for around 14 years, allegedly developed links with members of a narcotics syndicate operating within the Nigerian community in Chander Vihar. Police said he was involved in procuring, storing and supplying drugs to local associates and peddlers.
Emmanuel, who has also been residing in India for several years, allegedly had close links with the syndicate operating from Chander Vihar and Vikaspuri. He allegedly coordinated with other traffickers and facilitated movement and distribution of narcotics.
Sameer allegedly acted as a last-mile distributor, supplying heroin and MDMA to local peddlers and consumers on behalf of Lady and the foreign nationals. He has two previous cases, including one under the NDPS Act.
Lady, a resident of Shalimar Garden, Ghaziabad, allegedly played a role in procurement, transportation and supply of heroin and MDMA. She is also a previous offender and was earlier booked in a 2023 NDPS case.
“Teams recovered a total of 2.554 kg heroin, 881 grams MDMA and 11 mobile phones from the accused. The drugs are estimated to be worth around Rs 12 crore in the international market,” the officer said.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate and dismantle the entire supply network, the police said. PTI BM SMV PRK
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