Four key members of an international narcotic drug cartel including a Nigerian have been arrested by the police in India.
The Nigerian, Michael Chinedu Chukwudi, was nabbed alongside Balwinder Singh, Surender Singh, and Catherine Leonard Mrope, a Tanzania national.
According to India Today, the suspects were arrested following a tip-off.
The suspects usually smuggled drugs inside household items. They had secret cavities carved inside suitcases, bags, household items used to safely smuggle the drugs to India.
Prior to their arrest, the police had received information that two persons: Balwinder Singh and Surender Singh came to Delhi and had procured a big consignment of heroin from African nationals from Dwarka and were to supply heroin near Rohini jail.
Following the information, the police reportedly laid a trap near the petrol pump and arrested the duo who disclosed that they were part of a massive international narcotic syndicate.
An Assistant Police Inspector, API Wagh, said about 4 kilograms of heroin were recovered from the drug suppliers, a car, several mobile handsets along with SIM cards used in drug trafficking were also recovered.
“The international value of recovered heroin is over Rs 16 crores,” the police inspector said.
“Police formed two teams conducted simultaneous raids at both the hideouts in Dwarka and Gurgaon.
“During this operation, the main kingpin of this cartel, Nigeria’s Michael Chinedu Chukwudi was nabbed from his rented house in Gurgaon and one kg heroin was recovered from him. Two passports were also recovered from his apartment.
“In the other raid at other rented house of the said Nigerian, two more passports from Tanzania and South Africa having photographs of his wife Catherine Leonard Mrope were recovered.
“Fake passport of South Africa was also having stickers of fake visa of India and fake immigration stamps.
“His wife, Catherine Leonard Mrope was also arrested for illegally staying in India and for forgery and possession of fake passport and other incriminating documents.
Both foreigners were interrogated in detail, during which Michael Chinedu Chukwudi reportedly said he has been supplying heroin to drugs supplier including Balwinder and Surender the last six months, adding that he used to get the supply of heroin from another Nigerian.”
Chukwudi was also said to have told the police that the fake South African passport was forged by him because his Nigerian passport had expired and he had to shift to Gurgaon a week ago.
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