In a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on the Yasin-Shahwar drug trafficking ring, Bhopal Crime Branch on Tuesday claimed to have arrested a Thai woman and a Nigerian national for allegedly supplying synthetic drugs in the city.
Police seized 2.95 grams of MDMA (commonly known as MD) during the operation.
According to police, the Nigerian national is believed to be the primary MDMA supplier for Yasin’s network, while the Thai woman was actively involved in distributing drugs both online and offline in Bhopal and Delhi. The woman also worked at spa centres in the city, allegedly using them as fronts for drug peddling activities.
Following the arrest of six members of Yasin’s gang, police expanded their probe and unearthed links to Delhi, where a Nigerian man was identified as a key supplier.
The arrested Nigerian national, identified as 34-year-old Orachor Onyeka, is already facing cases under the Foreigners Act and fraud sections at DLF Phase-1 police station in Delhi.
Onyeka has a sprawling drug distribution network across Bhopal, Delhi, and other Indian cities. Police sources revealed that he imports MDMA from foreign countries and has been operating in India for the past seven years. He contacted his clients through WhatsApp, Telegram, and other online platforms. He supplied MDMA to the nabbed drug peddlers Yasin and Shahwar. Cops believe that he might be manufacturing the chemical drugs at his hideout.
Additional DCP (Crime Branch) Shailendra Singh Chouhan said that police recovered Indian SIM cards from the nabbed Nigerian man and Thai woman. They were issued on a local Indian individual’s identity. Police are investigating the numbers and trying to contact the person on whose documents these SIM cards were issued.
If the accused fraudulently used the documents to get the SIM cards, a separate FIR will be registered against them.
Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra said, “Both foreign nationals are being interrogated further. The Nigerian was primarily operating through Delhi, while the Thai woman was active in both Delhi and Bhopal. More revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.”
