In one of India’s largest coordinated crackdowns on transnational narcotics, authorities have arrested 50 Nigerian nationals believed to be involved in a highly sophisticated drug distribution and money-laundering network operating across multiple major cities.
According to NDTV, the operation was led by the Delhi Police in collaboration with the Telangana Police’s EAGLE unit, alongside police teams from Noida, Vizag, and Gwalior. Months of intelligence gathering culminated in simultaneous raids across Delhi, dismantling key layers of a cartel that trafficked methamphetamine and cocaine across India.
Investigations revealed that the cartel maintained an extensive customer base using encrypted communication and delivery methods modeled after food delivery apps to execute drug “dead drops,” avoiding direct contact with clients. Authorities described the network as extremely sophisticated, utilizing layered communication channels and app-based delivery patterns specifically designed to evade law enforcement detection.
The cartel’s operations were reportedly intertwined with a sex-trade ring, which provided both cover and logistical support for drug distribution. Investigators have identified approximately 2,000 individuals who received drugs through courier and dead drop methods, indicating the vast scale of the network’s reach.
On the financial side, authorities discovered that the cartel routed its illicit profits through hawala operators. The proceeds from drug sales were converted into goods such as garments and human hair, which were exported to Lagos, Nigeria, effectively disguising the drug earnings as legitimate trade. One identified kingpin is suspected to have laundered at least ₹15 crore through these channels alone.
This massive coordinated crackdown marks a significant milestone in multi-agency efforts to dismantle entrenched drug syndicates in India. Police officials said the next phase of the investigation would focus on tightening immigration checks, monitoring hawala facilitators, and identifying remaining cartel commanders believed to be operating from outside India.
The arrests highlight the growing challenge of transnational drug trafficking in India, as well as the increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminal networks to evade law enforcement. Authorities have urged members of the public with information about the suspects or their operations to come forward, as efforts continue to fully dismantle the cartel and bring all perpetrators to justice.
This operation underscores the need for cross-border cooperation in tackling organized crime, as well as the crucial role of intelligence-led policing in disrupting complex and evolving narcotics networks.
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