3 Nigerians held, drugs worth Rs 12 lakhs seized

Justin Imbonako Joy (28), Yugo Chukua Ajaha (32) and Sulemon Okik Ikinochokoho (26) were spotted moving around the Shivaji Path near Gaondevi Maidan close to Thane station at around 11.45 PM yesterday, Senior Police Inspector Mandar Dharmadhikari said.

The three were intercepted and were found in possession of contrabands - about 260 gms of mephedrone and nearly 320 gms of ephedrine - valued at around Rs 12 lakhs, he said.

Subsequently, the three Nigerians, residing in Nalasopara area of adjoining Palghar district, were arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

The case has been transferred to the Anti-Narcotic Cell of Thane police, he added.

Notably, in a major haul in April this year, the Thane police had seized around 18.5 tonne of ephedrine, worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore, after raiding the premises of chemical firm 'Avon Lifesciences Ltd' in Maharashtra's Solapur district.