Three Nigerians have been arrested by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau in India for their involvement in a complex drug trafficking and money laundering operation.
Along with several accomplices, the suspects were apprehended following an investigation that led to the recovery of cocaine and MDMA worth Rs 12.5 lakh.
According to The Times of India, the arrests are part of a larger ongoing investigation into a financial network that was being exploited by drug cartels to launder proceeds from illegal drug sales.
The authorities traced the financial dealings of drug dealers and uncovered multiple shell companies operating in Mumbai and Delhi, which allegedly funneled drug money into foreign accounts.
Among those arrested, 35-year-old Igwe Obataobie, also known as Igwe Elvis, a Nigerian residing in Bengaluru, is accused of playing a central role in the laundering operation.
Investigators say Elvis ensured the illicit drug earnings were transferred to various Nigerian bank accounts.
The investigation also revealed the involvement of Palestinian nationals and additional foreign nationals in a broader network responsible for diverting funds internationally.
Officials discovered that several companies, including Mr X, King Enterprise, and Riya, were set up as legitimate businesses but were allegedly being used as fronts to launder drug-related proceeds.
This discovery came during an investigation into Mohammed Osman, alias Faisal, a notorious drug peddler currently detained in Goa’s Colvale Jail.
Faisal’s interstate network led authorities to companies operating as shell entities and using private bank accounts to move illicit funds out of India.
Another key figure in the syndicate, Awni Hassan Abu Alkas, a Palestinian living in Delhi, is said to have led a large drug trafficking network that included both Nigerian nationals and Indian collaborators.
His group was reportedly responsible for distributing drugs across cities like Bengaluru, Goa, and Hyderabad.
Police sources explained that drug cartels typically send money abroad to pay for shipments of illegal substances such as cocaine and MDMA.
These transactions are often carried out through cash payments and online transfers using mule accounts, then routed through shell companies to conceal the final destination of the funds.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities suspect that the network may extend beyond what has been uncovered so far, as many arrested individuals refuse to cooperate with law enforcement.
Additionally, in February, another Nigerian, Patrick Ngomere, was arrested by the Delhi Police for hacking a pharmaceutical company’s email account and stealing Rs 11.73 lakh, further highlighting the international scope of the criminal activities linked to this syndicate.
