India detains Nigerian female suspect found carrying 3.6 kilograms of heroin

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Indian police have arrested a Nigerian woman and a taxi driver after allegedly recovering 3.6 kilogrammes of heroin during a special operation near the Goindwal bypass on the Amritsar-Bathinda highway in Tarn Taran.

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As reported by the Times of India on Sunday, the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation carried out by the CIA Staff, Tarn Taran, following a tip-off.

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Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, Surender Lamba, said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Inspector Rupinderpal Singh.

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Lamba said police intercepted a grey taxi near the Goindwal bypass and arrested a woman, simply identified as Bela, “a native of Delta State, Nigeria, currently residing in Delhi,” alongside taxi driver Dalip Kumar of Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

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During a search of the vehicle, police recovered “3.6 kg of heroin,” as well as the taxi, one mobile phone and “Rs 1,500 suspected drug money,” the police chief said.

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The SSP alleged that Kumar “was assisting the woman in transporting heroin for financial gain.”

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He further stated that preliminary investigations revealed that Bela was “part of an international drug trafficking network linked to Pakistani smugglers.”

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According to Lamba, the suspect allegedly coordinated “heroin consignments smuggled across the India-Pakistan border for supply in Punjab, Delhi and other states.”

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“A case has been registered against the accused under Section 21-C of the NDPS Act at City Tarn Taran police station,” he added.

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The arrest comes amid a string of recent drug-related cases involving Nigerian nationals in India.

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In May 2026, Nigerian national Tochukwu Afame was arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine concealed inside blood pressure machines, while two other Nigerians were arrested the same month over alleged drug trafficking and immigration violations.

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In April 2026, Indian authorities also arrested Samuel Ikkena in Bengaluru over an alleged drug network involving MDMA, heroin and cannabis, while another Nigerian, Jacob Nnabuike Ugwu, was arrested in Delhi for alleged MDMA trafficking.

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