Nigerian national arrested from Kerala in ₹55 lakh drugs case

The Naroda police of Ahmedabad have arrested a Nigerian national, Charles alias Frank Ofudil, from Kerala in a case involving Mephedrone (MD) drugs worth more than ₹55 lakh. According to a report by Sandesh, the accused had fled Bengaluru to hide in Kerala, who was subsequently traced by the police through technical surveillance of his IP address.

The case originated on 17 September, when Naroda police seized 1850 grams of MD drugs valued at ₹55.50 lakh. At that time, Nikilesh Krishnappa from Bengaluru, who was transporting the drugs, was arrested. Subsequently, during the investigation, the drug receiver Vishal Shimlach was apprehended from Meghalaya. Frank was the mastermind of this entire network.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Frank arrived in India on a business visa in 2019 and stayed in Delhi. In Delhi, he established contacts with drug suppliers from Chandigarh. After 2021, he moved to Bengaluru and became active in the drug network, operating an illegal business with the help of couriers and delivery boys. In 2022, after a case was registered against him in Kerala under the NDPS Act, he shifted to Bengaluru.

Police investigation has disclosed that the accused's business visa has expired and he possesses no other valid documents; therefore, the Immigration Department will conduct further investigation into this matter. The police are currently gathering details regarding other connections in Delhi and Chandigarh to uncover further secrets of this interstate and international drug racket.