Nigerian Woman Faces Up to 20 Years in Indian Prison for Alleged N1.8bn Drug Trafficking

A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, identified as Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, has been arrested in India after authorities allegedly found illegal drugs valued at over ₦1.8 billion in her possession.

The arrest was carried out by India’s Central Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics Wing in Bengaluru, following surveillance in the Tarahunase village area on Rajanukunte Main Road. Akinwunmi had just arrived from Delhi when operatives intercepted her with a suspicious bag containing over 5.3 kilograms of MDMA, a banned synthetic stimulant commonly used at parties.

According to Indian officials, the drugs were hidden inside 11 traditional churidar outfits, possibly in an attempt to evade detection.

Authorities believe the Nigerian national was working as a drug courier for a network of African traffickers. Four men suspected to be part of the drug ring were reportedly seen nearby on scooters but fled without collecting the parcel. Akinwunmi was arrested at the scene, still in possession of the bag.

She allegedly told investigators that she travelled to India to start a beauty salon business. However, her arrest has led to formal charges under two major Indian laws the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 and the Foreigners Act of 1946.

Under the NDPS Act, possession of commercial quantities of drugs like MDMA carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, which can be extended to 20 years, along with fines ranging from ₹100,000 to ₹200,000.

The Foreigners Act also gives the Indian government the power to prosecute and deport any non-citizen found guilty of criminal conduct within the country.

This arrest came just days after another Nigerian, identified as Emmanuel Bediako, was apprehended by anti-narcotics agents in Telangana for unrelated drug trafficking offences suggesting increased scrutiny of international drug networks operating in India.