In one of the biggest drug busts in the city in recent times, the Anti Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested a 42-year-old Nigerian national and recovered 14.84 kg of synthetic drugs, including 11.6 kg of MDMA crystals, 1.04 kg of ecstasy pills, and 2.2 kg of raw chemicals used for preparation of the drugs, worth ₹23.7 crore from him.
According to the police, the accused, Ejike Nzegwu, is a habitual offender involved in similar cases. After coming out on bail, he continued to peddle drugs, sourcing the contraband from his contacts in Delhi, which is being probed.
Based on a tip-off, a CCB team raided a house in Bagalur and arrested the accused.
According to the police, the accused came to the city on a business visa in 2017 through Sri Lanka and overstayed. He was arrested by the Bagalur police in 2019 in a narcotics case and was jailed. He came out on bail and was later again arrested by the Konanakunte police in 2020 in another narcotics case.
The accused confessed that he sourced drugs from his contacts in New Delhi to sell it to local peddlers for the upcoming New Year’s Eve.
Terming the recovery as one of the biggest in the recent past, Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that the city police have seized drugs worth ₹113 crore in the year so far.
Mr. Singh said that legal action would be initiated against the house owner for violating rules and failing to inform the local police while renting out the premises to the accused. He has also ordered an inquiry against the local police for failing to keep tabs on the accused.
