India arrests Nigerian with N195m cocaine hidden in bread loaves

A 29-year-old Nigerian woman, Olajide Iyanuoluwa, has been arrested in India with 121 grams of cocaine valued at about Rs 1.20 crore (approximately N195m), which she allegedly concealed inside bread loaves.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Indian authorities have remanded Iyanuoluwa in judicial custody and initiated procedures to deport her to Nigeria.

According to a report by The Indian Express on Wednesday, Iyanuoluwa was arrested by the Karnataka Police for allegedly smuggling cocaine from Mumbai to Bengaluru.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had travelled to India in 2024 on a student visa and initially moved to Delhi before her arrest.

The Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh, said the arrest followed credible intelligence.

“Based on credible information that a foreign woman residing at Grace Trust, within the jurisdiction of the Varthur Police Station in Bengaluru, was supplying the prohibited narcotic drug cocaine to known persons, the CCB Narcotics Control Wing conducted a raid,” Singh said.

PUNCH Metro gathered that during the raid conducted on Tuesday, operatives recovered the cocaine from Iyanuoluwa and also seized a mobile phone allegedly used to facilitate the crime, alongside other items.

Police further disclosed that although Iyanuoluwa claimed to be a student, investigations showed that she stayed in several locations in Mumbai, including Ghatkopar (Gala Nagar), Ambawadi and Nallasopara, “without enrolling in any college.”

According to Singh, preliminary findings indicated that the suspect procured the cocaine from an associate in Mumbai and transported it to designated locations on his instructions.

“She procured cocaine from her friend in Mumbai and, as per his instructions, transported and supplied it to designated locations, thereby engaging in drug peddling and earning illegal money.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that she travelled from Mumbai to Bengaluru using private buses and concealed the cocaine in bread wrappers and similar products to evade detection,” he added.

The report further stated that following Iyanuoluwa’s arrest, police carried out a follow-up operation near Varthur, where the intended recipient was apprehended. Officials later confirmed that the prospective Nigerian buyer was deported shortly after his arrest.

Commenting on the development, a police officer noted that the drug cartel had recently altered its smuggling routes.

“The drug cartel, which usually smuggles drugs through couriers or postal services, changed its route after raids were conducted on courier firms and post offices,” the officer was quoted as saying.

Iyanuoluwa’s arrest adds to the growing list of Nigerians arrested and deported from India over drug-related offences.

The report added that data from India’s Home Department showed that more than 300 foreign nationals, including Nigerians, had been deported for involvement in drug peddling.