In a significant crackdown on international drug trafficking, authorities in Hyderabad have made major headway in a case involving a widespread narcotics network operated by Nigerian nationals. The Enforcement Agency for Global Legal Enforcement (EAGLE) team, in a coordinated operation with the Delhi Police, successfully apprehended 50 individuals linked to the racket less than ten days ago. Following swift investigations, 32 of these accused have already been deported from India.
The Mastermind and His Vast Network
Investigations by the EAGLE officials revealed that the arrested foreign nationals were not acting independently. They were all working for a shadowy figure identified as 'Nick', who is suspected to be operating from Nigeria itself. Nick is a wanted accused in multiple cases already registered by the EAGLE team. The probe uncovered that Nick commands a substantial force within India, with an estimated 100 associates in Delhi alone.
A forensic analysis of the electronic gadgets seized from the arrested peddlers painted a startling picture of the network's reach. Based on payment records and transaction histories, officials assessed that this syndicate catered to a clientele of over 3,000 individuals spread across various parts of India. This highlights the extensive and organized nature of the drug distribution web.
Unraveling the Money Laundering Web
The financial trail of the illicit operations has become a key focus for the investigators. Senior EAGLE officials indicated that the next phase involves tracking and booking the persons or companies that helped these gangs launder their drug money. The methods of laundering were diverse and involved seemingly legitimate businesses.
In one revealing instance, a publisher was found to have collaborated with peddlers to launder Rs 20 lakh to Nigeria. In other cases, the drug peddlers had formed ties with businessmen dealing in footwear and apparel, using their trade as a front to clean the dirty money. A specific case involves an arrested associate of Nick named Badruddin. While he claimed to run a garments business, it was merely a paper entity with no real operations, established solely to launder drug proceeds. Police discovered that a staggering Rs 15 crore deposited into his bank accounts was swiftly withdrawn, with the assistance of other businessmen, to obscure its origin. Badruddin is likely to be taken into custody and named as an accused in the relevant cases in Telangana.
Modus Operandi and Ongoing Actions
The drug peddlers employed a clever method to distribute their contraband. They would use courier services from Delhi, disguising the drugs as regular shipped products. An examination of CCTV footage from courier kiosks in Delhi showed that while operators verified the external packaging as per the customer's request, they did not check if the foreign nationals had hidden anything inside, allowing the drugs to slip through.
While the 32 Nigerians have been deported on priority by the Delhi Police, criminal cases have been formally registered against seven others from whom physical stocks of drugs were recovered. The remaining individuals from the initial arrest are also likely to face deportation as the investigation, which officials stress is still in its initial stages, continues to expand.
This operation marks a critical strike against a sophisticated international drug ring, exposing its deep roots in money laundering and its pan-Indian customer base. The hunt for the mastermind, Nick, and his financial facilitators remains active.
