Police seize 1kg cocaine worth R1cr, arrest two African peddlers

Two foreign nationals were arrested and 1kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth Rs1 crore, was recovered from them on Saturday.

Two foreign nationals were arrested and 1kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth Rs1 crore, was recovered from them on Saturday.

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The Azad Maidan unit of Mumbai police’s anti-narcotics cell (ANC) received a tip-off that two persons would come to south Mumbai with huge quantities of cocaine. They laid a trap near the Bharat petrol pump in Wadibunder on P D’Mello road. Around 9.15am on Saturday, the officials intercepted a Santro car (MH03-K-9294) and recovered the contraband.

This is one of the largest seizures of the banned substance in Mumbai in the last four years. The duo has been identified as 38-year-old Zambian, Jey Charli Steven and 47-year-old Nigerian, Babajide Duro George.

Sunil Kavalekar, senior inspector said, “Steven tried to flee with a carry bag containing 900gm of cocaine, but we caught him. George had 100gm of cocaine on him. They were on their way to deliver it to local peddlers in south Mumbai.” The officials are now looking into the ownership status of the car.

George had been arrested by the same ANC unit three months ago and was deported to Nigeria. “He has several cases registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. There are several people who make their way back to Mumbai even after they are sent back to their countries,” said an ANC official.

The police have registered a case against Steven and George under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and would produce them in an NDPS court on Monday.