Nigerian man held for possessing cocaine worth Rs 88 lakh

A Nigerian national was arrested for allegedly possessing cocaine worth Rs 88 lakh here, police said Wednesday.

According to police, the accused, identified as Sholadoye Samuel Joy, 44, was in India on a business visa and lived in Undri, a suburb of Pune.

He was involved in selling cocaine to the people living in posh residential societies in Undri, police said.

"We received information that the accused was selling cocaine to some people living in upmarket housing societies in Undri. Acting on the tip-off, we detained him and found him possessing over 700 gm cocaine worth Rs 88 lakh," a police officer attached to the crime branch said.

Besides the contraband, police seized cash worth Rs 3.7 lakh, five cell phones, expensive wrist-watches from him, he said.

According to the official, Joy was in India on a business visa for the garment trade.