The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru, India has arrested a Nigerian national, Ernest Onyekachi Ugah, 45, in connection with the possession and alleged peddling of MDMA and ecstasy pills valued at Rs 5.15 crore (approximately N803,073,262.37) in the international market, officials said on Tuesday.
Ugah, who reportedly operated from a rented house in the Munnekolalu area under the Marathahalli police station limits, was taken into custody on Monday night following intelligence inputs, according to police. Authorities said they recovered 2.5 kilograms of MDMA and 300 ecstasy pills from his possession.
The accused has two previous cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act registered against him at Hennur and Kadugodi police stations in Bengaluru. He had recently been released from jail and was under surveillance by the Anti-Narcotics Wing before his latest arrest.
“The accused had come to the city around five years ago for medical treatment, but overstayed and remained involved in unlawful activities. His visa has expired, yet he continued to stay in the country and was repeatedly found involved in criminal activities,” a police officer said.
A case has been registered against Ugah under the NDPS Act. Investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the seized drugs, identify other individuals in the network, and determine both backward and forward linkages in the operation.
Police officers also highlighted the challenges posed by repeat offenders and foreign nationals, urging the need for fast-track trials. “If fast-track trials are conducted, such accused can be deported to their home country at the earliest. In the absence of fast-track proceedings, they keep getting bail and continue with the same offences,” the officer said. He added that bail conditions for repeat offenders involved in drug cases should be made more stringent.
In this article