Nigerian held with cocaine worth Rs 3.5 crore

In the biggest recovery, 310 gram of cocaine with a street value of Rs 3.5 crore were seized from a Nigerian by the Narcotics Cell of the Crime Branch, police said on Sunday.

“Acting on a tip off, a team of the Narcotics Cell nabbed Okpala James (28), near Jawaharlal Nehru bus stand near the New Delhi railway station on July 10,” said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner (Crime) of Police. He alleged that the accused was carrying 310 gram of fine quality cocaine estimated to be Rs 3.5 crore. “It is the biggest recovery of drugs by Narcotics Cell of Crime Branch,” Yadav said.

James had come to India in April 2015 on a medical visa and during his visit he met another Nigerian, Chi Chi B, who lured him to join the smuggling racket. The police said James came under his influence, when he found that Chi was making huge money by supplying cocaine to youth in Delhi and nearby areas. 

In order to fulfill his greed and improve his financial condition, he came back to India in June 2015 and started selling cocaine to the Indian users and joined the drug trafficking gang, police said.

Yadav added, “Besides Chi Chi B, the accused was also in contact with another Nigerian; a big player in the illegal cocaine trade and had said to supply the contraband to James.” Teams have been formed to trace the whereabouts of the kingpin, the officer said. The police have also recovered several mobile phones from James that were used to contact the customers in Delhi.