Another Nigerian, now a woman, faces prospect of 20-year jail in India after arrest in village upon arrival from New Delhi
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Another Nigerian, this time a woman aged 25, faces the daunting prospect of 20 years’ jail in India after she was allegedly arrested with drugs worth more than N1.8 billion meant for an African drug ring in the South East Asian country for which she allegedly acted as a courier.
The news comes hot on the heels of the arrest in India of a Nigerian man for the same offence of drug trafficking.
The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru on June 10 arrested IfeOluwa Akinwunmi, a hairstylist and nail artist, at Tarahunase village along Rajanukunte Main Road, after arriving from New Delhi with a suspicious bag.
The New Indian Express reports the bag contained 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, a banned party drug, concealed among 11 new churidars – traditional Indian outfits.
“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers,” a police officer involved in the operation was quoted as saying.
“We noticed four men on two scooters in the area, but they did not collect the parcel. Akinwunmi was arrested while standing with the bag.”
The suspect, who claimed she travelled to India to establish a beauty salon, is now facing charges under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.
Section 23 of the NDPS Act stipulates severe penalties for those caught importing, exporting, or transhipping narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The Indian legal code says those found with a commercial quantity of drugs, such as the MDMA seized from Akinwunmi, face at least 10 years in jail in addition to heavy fines.
The section stipulates that “Where the contravention involves commercial quantity, [the offender shall be punished] with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to twenty years and shall also be liable to a fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees.”
Under the Foreigners Act of 1946, the Indian government also has the authority to prosecute and deport foreigners involved in criminal activities.
Report of Akinwunmi’s arrest emerged two days after another Nigerian, Emmanuel Bediako, also known as Maxwell, was arrested by the Indian Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau for alleged drug trafficking.
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