Indian police have arrested a Nigerian national, identified as Ezeaputa Chijioke, over alleged involvement in supplying cocaine to club-goers and partygoers in Chandigarh and surrounding areas.
According to a report by The Times of India, Chijioke was arrested on October 6 with approximately 70.5 grammes of cocaine following investigations into an alleged drug distribution network operating in the region.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of three suspected drug dealers, with police recovering a combined 113 grammes of cocaine and an ATM card during the crackdown.
Investigations began on October 4 when officers arrested a private cab driver, Rakesh Kumar, also known as Karan, near Sector 23-C market. Police reportedly recovered 22.1 grammes of cocaine from him.
During questioning, Kumar allegedly identified Jaskaran Gill as his supplier. Gill was subsequently arrested in Dehradun, where he reportedly named Chijioke as his source of cocaine.
Police alleged that Kumar delivered the drugs to customers on Gill’s instructions and received 500 Indian rupees for each delivery.
Gill was also accused of coordinating the distribution process and collecting payments through QR codes and online platforms.
During the investigation, officers reportedly recovered 21.30 grammes of cocaine, a Mercedes-Benz, a Mitsubishi Pajero, a Tata Safari and an ATM card allegedly linked to the suspected transactions.
The vehicles are suspected by investigators to have been purchased with proceeds from drug trafficking.
Chijioke, who reportedly lived in Kharar, was also alleged to have been staying in India illegally after failing to produce his passport when requested by the authorities.
Police investigations into the alleged network are continuing.
The arrest comes less than three months after four other Nigerian nationals were reportedly arrested in India over alleged links to drug trafficking, with narcotics valued at approximately 150 million Indian rupees, equivalent to about ₦2.1 billion, recovered during several operations.
Those arrests reportedly followed coordinated operations involving the Narcotics Control Bureau, state police and other security agencies targeting suspected drug trafficking networks and foreign nationals allegedly overstaying their visas.
The allegations against Chijioke have yet to be established in court.
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