Three Nigerians arrested in India drug bust linked to ₹1 crore cocaine haul and synthetic drug lab exposed in Gurugram following a Kerala MDMA seizure

Nigerians arrested in India drug bust have been identified as central figures in a cross-state synthetic drug trafficking network, following a joint operation led by Kozhikode town police in Kerala.

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The arrests of Henry Onuchukwu, John alias David, and Okolie Romanus on Monday came after months of investigation into a February 2025 seizure of 778 grams of MDMA near Kozhikode railway station.

The case gained traction after the interrogation of Siraj, a native of Malappuram, whose phone and banking records led authorities to New Delhi and then to Gurugram, Haryana.

With assistance from mobile tower data, police tracked the trio to an industrial estate in Gurugram.

A coordinated raid—conducted with intelligence support from Kerala—uncovered 900 grams of cocaine, 2.3 kg of unprocessed cocaine, 1.6 kg of sulfonamides, and 43 mobile phones, all collectively valued at ₹1 crore (approx. $120,000).

According to police reports, apart from Romanus, the other two Nigerians lacked valid visas or residency permits, making their presence in India illegal.

Authorities have confirmed that immigration violations will be pursued alongside the narcotics charges.

The extensive operation was spearheaded by Inspector Jithesh and his team, who travelled across Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh to break the supply chain and dismantle the network.

“This is a significant blow to a transnational drug network operating from northern India to the southern states,” a senior Kozhikode police official said.

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The bust is seen as part of a broader crackdown on synthetic drug manufacturing and international trafficking rings in India.