Hyderabad police bust interstate drug racket, seize MDMA worth Rs 20 lakh
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) and Tolichowki Police captured two Nigerian nationals suspected of orchestrating a sprawling drug trafficking ring across several states. Officers confiscated 150 grams of MDMA, valued at nearly Rs 20 lakh.
The accused have been identified as Chidi Ezeh (42) and Obasi James Victor (38), both residents of New Delhi. They were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, following a tip-off and a joint operation conducted on January 8.
Chidi Ezeh entered India on a medical attendant visa in 2014 and stayed illegally after his documents expired. He was arrested in Hyderabad in 2019 in a drug seizure case involving cocaine and MDMA. After his release, he allegedly obtained fraudulent Indian identity documents, including an Aadhaar card, a PAN card, and a driver’s license, under the name “Nageshwaran.”
According to police, Ezeh sourced drugs from an absconding Nigerian supplier named Chris in Delhi and distributed them to peddlers in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi. His associate, Obasi James Victor, entered India on a tourist visa in 2011 and allegedly assisted in deliveries. He also ran a restaurant in Delhi as a front.
During the raid, police also seized a mobile phone, bank cards, and the fake Indian IDs from the accused.
Investigations revealed both men had overstayed their visas and were involved in interstate narcotics supply. Ezeh faces multiple pending NDPS cases. Authorities have started deportation proceedings for James Victor, who has no prior criminal record in India. He will be blocklisted and barred from re-entering the country.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force/H-NEW), Vaibhav Gaikwad, IPS, appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any drug-related activities. “We are committed to ensuring a drug-free Hyderabad. Parents are urged to monitor their children’s activities, and citizens can share information anonymously on our dedicated helpline,” he said.
