Nigerian Woman Arrested in India with Over 5kg of MDMA Crystals Worth N1.8 Billion

Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi

A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, has been arrested by India’s Central Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics Wing for alleged drug trafficking after she was found in possession of over 5.3 kilograms of MDMA crystals.

Akinwunmi, who reportedly worked as a hairstylist and nail technician, claimed she travelled to India to set up a beauty salon. However, she was arrested last Tuesday in Tarahunase village, near Rajanukunte Main Road in Bengaluru, following a tip-off that led authorities to intercept her as she arrived from Delhi with a suspicious bag.

Upon searching the bag, officers discovered 5.325 kg of MDMA crystals concealed alongside 11 new churidars (traditional Indian outfits). The drugs are estimated to have a street value of Rs 10 crore, equivalent to over ₦1.8 billion.

Authorities said Akinwunmi, who is popularly known as Princess, was acting as a drug courier and had intended to hand over the parcel to a group of African drug peddlers operating in the city. Investigators observed four men on two scooters in the area who were suspected to be the intended recipients, but they fled without collecting the package.

Acting on a tip-off regarding a foreign national trying to peddle drugs in Chikkajala, the police detained Princess on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers,” one officer confirmed. “Princess was arrested while standing with the bag. The men did not collect the parcel.”

During interrogation, Akinwunmi claimed she was unaware of the bag’s contents and said a friend in Delhi had asked her to deliver it to a man wearing a black hat. She also stated that she had plans to start a salon business in Bengaluru and identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant, though she refused to provide further personal details.

Investigations further revealed that Akinwunmi initially entered India in October 2021 on a business visa and later obtained a student visa to study at a university in Telangana. However, she never enrolled in any academic institution and has been illegally overstaying in the country since her visa expired in 2022.

Police sources indicated that they have credible leads on her boyfriend in Delhi, who is believed to be part of the drug network and is currently on the run. Authorities plan to take her into further custody for a more extensive investigation.

“This is the first case registered against her in Bengaluru, and we are still working to verify if she is connected to any other drug trafficking cases across India,” an officer said.

The suspect has since been handed over to the Chikkajala Police Station, where she remains in custody as investigations continue.

Her arrest follows closely on the heels of another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, also known as Maxwell, who was detained in Telangana for similar drug trafficking offenses just two days earlier.