Friday, April 11, 2025 -Two Nigerians and a local forex agent have been arrested in Hyderabad, India, as police uncovered a transnational drug trafficking and money laundering syndicate with links to the United States and Nigeria, The Hindu Newspapers reports.
The suspects, identified as Ugwu Ikechukwu (alias Emma) and
Chukwu Ogbonna (alias Big Joe), were arrested by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics
Bureau and Cyberabad Police during a sting operation in the Upparpally area on
Saturday, April 5.
Authorities seized 15 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of MDMA,
and ₹45,000 in cash during the operation.
Mohd Mateen Siddiqui, a Hyderabad-based money transfer agent was also arrested
for allegedly helping route proceeds from the illegal drug trade across
borders.
Several people who are now evading capture have also been
named by the police.
Among them are Ezeonyili Franklin Uchenna, Syed Sohail Abdul
Aziz, Syed Naseer Ahmed, Mohd Awaiz, Mohd Mateen, Syed Yousuf Haq, Anand Jain,
Shantilal Suresh Kumar Jain, and Uttam Jain.
According to the police, the syndicate was led by a Nigerian
national, Ebuka Suzee, who initially entered India on a tourist visa.
Suzee allegedly set up a drug supply chain in Hyderabad and
Bengaluru, working with his brother Franklin Uchenna and other associates to
expand operations into the United States.
Investigators said the gang used fake relationships to scam
single American women into giving up their banking details, which were then
used to receive payments for drugs.
The funds were laundered through a network of local and
international bank accounts before being routed to Nigeria.
“Ebuka Suzee initially arrived in India on a tourist visa
and built a network to supply drugs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru with the
assistance of his brother Franklin Uchenna. During this time, he developed
connections with other accused individuals and extended his drug operations to
the United States,” said TGANB Director Sandeep Shandilya.
The laundered money was eventually delivered to Nigerian
businessmen in Mumbai, who funneled it back home under the cover of legitimate
garment trade.
He said Emma passed the funds to Big Joe, who transported
them to Mumbai and delivered them to Nwabueze Kenechukwu Victor.
From there, the money was funnelled to Nigerian businessmen
engaged in the garment trade, who laundered the proceeds.
“This network ran through a well-coordinated chain. Each
individual, from the peddlers to forex agents, was aware of facilitating
illegal transactions,” said Shandilya.
0 Comments