Nigerians and Ghanaians on trial in India after arrest for alleged multiple crimes
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
About seven Nigerians and another group of Ghanaians are facing trial in India for allegedly defrauding more than 350 people of over $94,000 as announced by Punjab State police.
The suspects, all male and aged between 25 and 35, were arrested by the Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of Punjab Police in a sting operation that dismantled “an international fraud syndicate”.
The Indian Express reports the accused were operating from a rented apartment in Noida where they allegedly set up a fake call centre to run fraudulent activities.
The police raid recovered a substantial haul, including 79 smartphones, four laptops (two of which were Apple MacBooks), 99 SIM cards (both Indian and foreign), and documents linked to 31 fake bank accounts.
The total value of the seized items was estimated at around 30 lakh Rupees and the bank transactions at 15 crore (more than $94,000).
Senior Superintendent of Police, Harmandeep Singh Hans, said: “The accused allegedly used fake social media profiles to befriend Indian and foreign nationals.
“They would promise expensive gifts from abroad and later claim that customs had held the parcel, demanding money under the guise of clearance fees or taxes.
“Using advanced cyber tools and covert strategies, our team managed to apprehend the culprits.”
DSP Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, who led the operation, disclosed that “The house from which they operated was rented by a Nigerian woman, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
“The suspects also opened bank accounts in private banks, and we are investigating the names on the accounts and how they procured the SIM cards.
“The scammers also targeted fellow Nigerian citizens, deceiving them with fake job offers in India.”
The suspects were presented before a Mohali Court and remanded in police custody for two days to aid further investigation.
The news comes after a recent report by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau exposed how Nigerians trafficking drugs in India use fake identities, expired visas, and sham marriages to carry out illegal activities.
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