Kerala lead helps unearth drug syndicate with international links
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a major interstate and cross-border drug supply network following a tip-off from the Kerala Police. The operation led to the arrest of six individuals, including two Nigerian nationals, and the recovery of drugs worth Rs 21 crore.
Officials said the network was led by Suhail (31), a Kerala resident wanted in multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was allegedly distributing narcotics across South India and had travelled to Delhi to restock his supply when police closed in.
Arrests across Delhi, Bengaluru and Greater Noida
On July 19, Kerala Police alerted Delhi Police about Suhail’s presence in the Capital. A team led by Sub-Inspector Ravi Bhushan tracked him to a guest house in Southwest Delhi, arresting him and his associate Sujin (32). Police seized 5,950 gm of methamphetamine from their possession.
A scrutiny of Suhail’s phone revealed contacts with Nigerian suppliers. Acting on these leads, officers arrested Toby Nwoyeke alias Deco (35) from Chattarpur and recovered 64 gm of methamphetamine. Deco, who had been living in Bengaluru for several years, allegedly sourced the drugs from another Nigerian, Ogo alias Obichi, operating from Greater Noida.
As investigations progressed, police uncovered Suhail’s links with a Bengaluru-based couple — Md Zaheed (29) and his wife Suha Fatima alias Neha (29). The duo allegedly financed Suhail’s operations and resold drugs across the city. The couple was arrested in a raid at a paying guest accommodation in Bommanahalli, Bengaluru.
On August 25, Delhi Police arrested another Nigerian, Chikwado Nnake Kingsley (29), from Greater Noida. Kingsley had entered India in 2015 and was allegedly introduced into drug trafficking by compatriots already operating in the country.
Dead drop tactics and targeted clientele
According to DCP (Crime Branch) Harsh Indora, Suhail employed a “dead drop” method to evade arrest, leaving narcotics in isolated locations such as bushes or roadsides and sharing pictures and coordinates with buyers. To avoid stricter punishment under the NDPS Act, he allegedly sold drugs in non-commercial quantities of less than 50 gm.
Investigators revealed that the syndicate’s main customers included students, IT professionals, and young people across South India. Police suspect that the couple from Bengaluru, described as Suhail’s “loyal customers”, played a significant role in pushing narcotics into these circles.
Suspect’s history of drug abuse
Police said Suhail had earlier worked in Dubai before returning to Kerala in 2019. By then, he was allegedly addicted to methamphetamine. In 2020, he was arrested for possession of five grams of the drug. After his release, he relocated to Bengaluru and began running a small-scale distribution network, gradually expanding through contacts such as Deco and Kingsley.
Fatima, one of the arrested, reportedly entered the trade after her first marriage to an MDMA addict collapsed. Investigators said she leveraged her ex-husband’s contacts to expand her new business with Zaheed.
International syndicate under watch
Kingsley, the latest arrest in Greater Noida, allegedly worked with two Nigerians named Chigmo and Ajuko. According to police, Ajuko operates from Nigeria, using WhatsApp and other social media platforms to coordinate the drug trade in India.
“The arrests have uncovered not just a local supply chain but an international syndicate that operates across states and borders,” said DCP Indora. Police are now tracking Ogo alias Obichi and other key figures believed to be controlling the flow of narcotics into India.
Conclusion
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking in India, police said. With multiple states and international actors involved, the probe has revealed the scale and sophistication of the networks targeting young consumers. Investigators added that further arrests are likely as they continue to trace financial links and suppliers connected to the syndicate.