India Breaks Up Nationwide Drug and Hawala Ring, Detains 50 Nigerians

Indian authorities have dismantled what they describe as a widespread criminal network involved in drug distribution and illegal money transfers, arresting 50 Nigerian nationals in a series of coordinated raids across multiple states. Security officials say the operation is one of the most extensive joint crackdowns India has carried out in recent years.

Investigators report that the syndicate relied heavily on the hawala system , an informal financial channel that operates outside regulated banking structures. The system enables money to move discreetly within and beyond India without generating official transaction records, making it a key tool for criminal groups seeking to evade surveillance.

According to preliminary intelligence, the organisation maintained several active cells across major Indian cities. Each group handled specific duties, ranging from drug logistics to communications and the covert transfer of illicit funds to domestic and international partners.

The breakthrough resulted from months of intelligence sharing among various agencies. Officials noted that the degree of coordination was unusually broad, allowing investigators to map out the network’s structure and track its financial routes more accurately than previous attempts.

One significant component of the crackdown involved the Telangana EAGLE unit, which sent around 120 operatives to New Delhi. The team reportedly travelled in two specially reserved train coaches to ensure rapid deployment for simultaneous raids.

Authorities say the arrested suspects were linked to different layers of the operation, with some allegedly handling distribution while others managed the flow of illegal funds through hawala intermediaries. Evidence gathered during the raids is now being analysed to determine the full scope of the network’s international connections.

Officials believe additional arrests may follow as fresh intelligence emerges from the materials seized during the sweep. Investigators are also working to trace the financial beneficiaries behind the operation, some of whom are suspected to be based outside India.

The Indian government has reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance on foreign-linked criminal groups and tightening enforcement around informal money-transfer channels that facilitate drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime.