Nigerian Woman Busted in India with N1.8 Billion Drug Haul

Bengaluru, India – A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, also known as “Princess,” has been arrested in Bengaluru, India, by the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for alleged drug trafficking. She was apprehended last Tuesday with 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, commonly known as ecstasy, with an estimated street value of ₹10 crore (approximately N1.8 billion).

Akinwunmi, who identified herself as a hairstylist and nail artist, was intercepted at Tarahunase village on Rajanukunte Main Road as she arrived from Delhi with a suspicious bag. Inside the bag, alongside the substantial drug consignment, officers also found 11 new churidar outfits.

During questioning, Akinwunmi claimed she was unaware of the bag’s contents, stating that a friend in Delhi had simply instructed her to deliver it to a man wearing a black hat. She also told police she had plans to open a beauty salon in Bengaluru and identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant, though she declined to provide further personal details.

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Police suspect Akinwunmi was acting as a courier, intending to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers. Officers reportedly observed four men on two scooters in the area who did not collect the parcel, leading to Akinwunmi’s arrest while she was still with the bag.

Investigations into Akinwunmi’s background revealed that she arrived in India in October 2021 on a business visa. She later obtained a student visa to attend a university in Telangana but never enrolled, and has been illegally overstaying in the country since her visa expired in 2022.

Authorities have noted that this is the first case registered against her in Bengaluru, and further investigations are underway to ascertain if she has any other cases elsewhere in India. There are also credible leads on her boyfriend in Delhi, who is currently at large. Akinwunmi has been handed over to the jurisdictional Chikkajala police station for further legal action.

This arrest follows other recent drug busts involving Nigerian nationals in India, highlighting ongoing efforts by Indian law enforcement to curb drug trafficking.