Nigerian Arrested in India Over Alleged Multi-Million Naira Drug Network
A Nigerian national has been arrested in Bengaluru over his alleged involvement in a large-scale drug distribution network, with authorities recovering narcotics valued at over N290 million.
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The suspect, identified as Samuel Ikkena, 44, was apprehended by police in the Yelahanka area as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal drug operations targeting students and residents across the city.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Ikkena allegedly operated the drug ring under the guise of a clothing business. Investigators said he sourced MDMA crystals—commonly known as ecstasy—from the Bannerghatta area at about Rs 50,000 and resold them at significantly higher prices through an organised distribution network.
Police recovered approximately 2 kilograms of MDMA crystals, alongside 31.396 kilograms of cannabis, 220 grams of hydroponic cannabis, quantities of heroin, and a motorcycle reportedly used for transporting the drugs.
The Police Commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh, disclosed that the total seized substances were initially estimated at Rs 2.57 crore (about N180 million), with a potential street value rising to approximately Rs 5.14 crore (around N360 million).
Authorities revealed that Ikkena arrived in India in 2012 on a business visa, initially trading garments in Delhi and Mumbai before relocating to Bengaluru in 2025.
The arrest formed part of a broader anti-narcotics operation that led to 11 suspects being taken into custody, including two foreign nationals and several local accomplices across multiple locations in the city.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other key figures linked to the network, noting that the suspects are being prosecuted under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Nigerian Arrested in India Over Alleged Multi-Million Naira Drug Network