Nigerian woman caught with cocaine in India

A Nigerian woman has been arrested in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. She had 57.18 grams of cocaine worth over Rs29 lakh, which is about N40.9 million.

A report by News18 Hindi on Monday says the woman is Emmanuel Joy, a resident of Lagos. Chandan Nagar police arrested her after they found the drugs near IT Park, Sinhasa.

Joy was reportedly traveling from Mumbai to Indore to sell the cocaine. The police made the arrest during increased checks ahead of Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami celebrations.

While patrolling the IT Park Sinhasa area, officers saw Joy carrying a black bag. The police described her as a “foreign woman carrying a black bag” and said she looked suspicious.

They stopped her and asked questions, but “her answers were unsatisfactory,” the police said. This led to a search with female officers present.

During the search, they found 57.18 grams of cocaine hidden in a transparent bag. The drugs were valued at “over 29 lakh rupees,” according to the report.

Joy arrived in India from Nigeria on August 14. She came on a seven-month business visa and lived in Bandra East, Mumbai. There, she worked at a hair salon with her sister.

In questioning, Joy told police she bought the cocaine at a low price and planned to sell it for more in Indore. But investigators are checking her story.

A case has been filed against her under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Police are also looking into her passport, visa, and immigration records.

After her arrest, Joy was taken to court and placed in custody as investigations are ongoing. Police are also examining her mobile phone and other digital data.

They are trying to find out who bought the cocaine, who it was meant for in Indore, and who else is involved in this drug network. The investigation aims to reveal the supply route between Mumbai and Indore and if there are more suspects.