Bengaluru [Karnataka]: In a major crackdown, sleuths from the anti-narcotics wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested seven drug peddlers across five separate cases in the city. Those arrested include two Nigerians, a software engineer, and a dental student. Police recovered narcotics valued at nearly ₹10 crore, including 3.8kg of MDMA crystals, 41 grams of ecstasy pills, and 1.8kg of hydroganja.
Techie caught with hydroganja worth lakhs
On September 18, police arrested Kevin Roger (30), a Kerala native residing in Kalyan Nagar, east Bengaluru. Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted his Toyota Innova near Benniganahalli railway station in Pai Layout, where they recovered 500 grams of hydroganja hidden inside the vehicle.
During interrogation, Kevin, a software engineer with a well-paying job, admitted to turning to drug peddling to finance a more lavish lifestyle. A consumer himself, he sourced hydroganja from Kerala at low rates and sold it to students, techies, and party-goers, often targeting Bengaluru pubs on weekends.
Dental student linked to same network
In a separate operation on September 19, CCB officials raided the residence of Ranjith Antony Mathew (33), a dental student living in Lakkasandra. Police recovered 300 grams of hydroganja from his possession.
Like Kevin, Ranjith confessed that he entered the drug trade to make quick money. Investigations revealed that both men sourced narcotics from the same group of peddlers.
Nigerians supplied MDMA and ecstasy
On September 25, police arrested two Nigerian nationals in Hebbagodi. The accused, identified as Thomas Navid Chime (alias Toure Sekou/Gbeho Emmanuel), 42, and Ngwu Kingsley Chukwuemeka (alias Guilavogui Pascal), 32, had been in India since 2019. Thomas entered on a medical visa, while Ngwu arrived on a student visa.
The duo purchased MDMA crystals and ecstasy pills from peddlers in Delhi at cheaper rates before distributing them in Bengaluru’s party circuit.
Police records revealed that Thomas had been arrested in 2002 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Ngwu was also wanted in two cybercrime cases in Gujarat for his alleged role in online fraud.
A growing concern in Bengaluru
The arrests highlight the persistent challenge Bengaluru faces with drug peddling networks that target the city’s youth, particularly students and professionals. With the seizures valued at nearly ₹10 crore, CCB officials stressed that drug syndicates are increasingly diversifying their networks by involving individuals from varied backgrounds, including educated professionals.
The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and further investigations are under way to track the larger network involved in sourcing and distributing the contraband.
Conclusion
The crackdown underscores the CCB’s continuing efforts to disrupt the narcotics supply chain in Bengaluru. Officials said that more arrests are likely as investigations expand to identify local suppliers and international links.