Are African nationals becoming face of Bengaluru's murky drug scene?
- There has been a shocking rise in the number of cases involving African nationals.
- Even those who have been deported previously find ways to enter back into the country.
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With the arrest of Ekene Okonkwo aka Charli aged 32 by City Crime Branch, Women and Narcotics wing for possessing 3.5 grams of cocaine and 2.45 grams of MDMA worth one lakh it is established that the African nationals increasingly prefer to come back to India and continue to the drug trade.
According to police sources, they are finding new and innovate ways to enter back into the country.
The latest drug bust and once again has put the pressure on the police to closely monitor the foreign nationals in the city.
The CCB police, which has been tracking Charli found him operating under Kothnur police station limits area and after laying a trap were able to arrest him on Thursday.
"It is suspected that, he may have brought cartel of drugs like cocaine and MDMA. Now we have sent the accused to judicial custody and later we will interrogate about his links," said Siddalingappa Assistant Commissioner of Police, City Crime Branch.
During the investigation, the police found that Charli was previously arrested in 2014 for drug peddling.Â
"The accused may have been deported then and he may have used duplicate passport to come back. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office should be careful and both State and Union government should put African Nationals who are involved in drug peddlers under scanner," he said.
He also revealed that in another raid at Banaswadi another African National Sunday, Ikwuanwu Okonkwo aka Victor aka Michel John Kumar was caught and the CCB police seized 22 gms of Cocain and counterfeit currency notes (demonetised) and other articles worth Rs 2.5 lakhs from Banasawadi Police Station limits.
The police also recovered three mobile phones, three sim cards and a two-wheeler from the accused. Both the arrested person are Nigerian nationals and police are trying to find out whether there is a link between these two accused and how they entered India.Â
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"These accused take passport of students and workers from their country attach their photo. They show this fake passport and gain entry into Indian soil," said a senior official from Bengaluru City Commissionerate.
