Nigerians held with cocaine worth Rs.3.5 crore

Two Nigerians carrying cocaine worth Rs.3.5 crore have been arrested in the national capital, police said Thursday.

Azubnozu Ekene Patric, 38, and Olantude James, 45, were arrested Monday and Tuesday respectively from different places in the city with 340 grams of cocaine worth Rs.3.5 crore, Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Branch Ravindra Yadav said.

According to Yadav, Patric, who was arrested from a bus stand in Kakrola Mor in west Delhi, had 130 grams of cocaine which he was to deliver to a customer.

He added that based on a tip-off by Patric, the police arrested James the following day from a bus stand in west Delhi's Dwarka sector 19 area.

"He was also going to deliver a consignment of 210 grams of cocaine to his customer," he said.

Patric came to India in 2009 on a tourist visa and started a readymade garments export business.

"He used to export these garments to Nigeria from here," Yadav said.

However, since he suffered huge losses, Patric came in contact with some other Nigerians who were involved in drug smuggling.

"To earn quick money, he started supplying cocaine in Delhi since 2011," the official said.

According to Yadav, Patric was previously arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2011 for delivering 10 grams of cocaine. He was later released on bail but resumed his smuggling activities.

The 38-year-old told the police that he used to procure drug consignments from his contacts in Mumbai.

Similarly, James, a diploma holder in accountancy, also visited India thrice in 2011 on a tourist visa. He also indulged in drug trafficking to earn easy money.

"James disclosed that he was operating in alliance with some escort service providers in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and other metropolitan cities. He also used to procure cocaine from his contact in Mumbai," Yadav told IANS, adding that further inquiry was on to nab their associates.