Narcotics Busts: Two Arrested in Mumbai with Mephedrone, Nigerian Nationals Detained

Mumbai, 18th January 2024: In a significant anti-narcotics operation, two individuals, including a Nigerian national identified as Joseph C alias Aloma (39), were apprehended with 160 grams of mephedrone valued at Rs 32 lakh. The arrest followed an investigation into Feroz Sayyed (50), who was found in possession of a small quantity of contraband on the eastern express highway in Mulund East by the Azad Maidan unit of the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) on Monday evening.

The interrogation of Feroz Sayyed led authorities to conduct a raid on the residence of Joseph C (Aloma), where a stash of mephedrone was uncovered. In total, 160 grams of the substance, valued at Rs 32 lakh, were seized from the two individuals. Aloma, discovered to be residing in India illegally as his tourist visa expired in 2021, had initially entered the country in 2019.

Both Feroz Sayyed and Joseph C (Aloma) have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Additionally, Aloma faces supplementary charges under the Foreigners Act for his alleged illegal stay in the country.

In a separate incident, the Palghar police arrested a 66-year-old Nigerian woman, Kehinde Bolaji Bello, and seized narcotics worth nearly Rs 6.4 lakh from her residence in Pragati Nagar, Mira-Bhayander. The seized substances included 56.2 grams of MD and 7.5 grams of cocaine. A case has been filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Furthermore, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, agents from the Mumbai Zonal Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) detained two passengers arriving from Jeddah and seized gold valued at more than Rs 2 crore. The gold, concealed as 1 kg of gold dust sewn into their undergarments with wax, was discovered during a search based on specific intelligence. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is actively pursuing further investigations into this smuggling attempt.