Indian police have apprehended an alleged Nigerian drug peddler, Daniel, and confiscated 880 grams of high-quality cocaine valued at Rs 9 crore.

The arrest led authorities to uncover his associate and supplier, Joel Ramos, a 19-year-old Venezuelan national, who had clandestinely transported the drugs into the country from Ethiopia by concealing them within his stomach.

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Both individuals have been taken into custody, facing charges under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, as stated in a police statement released on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

According to the police account, Sakinaka police sub-inspectors Rajendra Nagar and Pankaj Pardeshi, along with their teams, were conducting night patrols when they observed a man exhibiting suspicious behavior.

Upon instructing him to stop, the individual attempted to flee but was promptly apprehended by the police.

The detained individual was identified as Daniel, a 38-year-old Nigerian national.

Upon searching Daniel, the police discovered 88 plastic capsules in his possession, each containing 880 grams of high-quality cocaine, estimated to be worth Rs 9 crore in the international market, as reported by Datta Nalawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 10.

Subsequent interrogations of Daniel led the police to a hotel in Sakinaka, where they arrested Joel Ramos.

Investigations unveiled that Ramos had recently arrived in India via Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, smuggling the cocaine capsules within his stomach.

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Following a successful entry into India, Ramos handed over the contraband to Daniel for further distribution, according to Nalawade.

The suspects are facing charges under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, accused of smuggling and selling commercial quantities of cocaine, along with violations of the Foreigners Act.