Pune Police Busts International Drug Racket, Nigerian Woman Remanded to Seven-Day Police Custody
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 4th April 2024: The Crime Branch of the Pune Police has dismantled an international drug trafficking network, seizing a substantial quantity of MD, valued at a staggering Rs 3,700 crore. The investigation into this illicit operation has also uncovered the involvement of a Nigerian syndicate.
The latest arrest in connection with this case is that of Cynthia, also known as Ugababang Onyekpe, a 32-year-old Nigerian woman residing in Mumbai on a business visa. She was apprehended from the Undri area of Pune, marking a crucial development in the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking.
The initial breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of Mephedrone smuggler Haider Sheikh in Pune. Subsequent interrogation led to the capture of his accomplice, Shoaib Saeed Sheikh, a 34-year-old resident of Kondhwa, Pune. Investigations revealed their involvement in supplying drugs to Cynthia in Mumbai.
It has come to light that the arrested and wanted individuals operated as part of an organized criminal network, engaging in the manufacturing, stockpiling, and distribution of the narcotic drug MD (Mephedrone). The scope of this criminal enterprise extends beyond Pune city and Maharashtra state, with ramifications in Delhi, West Bengal, Mumbai, and other regions. Authorities are conducting thorough investigations into the financial transactions, properties, and bank accounts associated with the arrested individuals.
According to officials, it has been revealed that Cynthia was facilitated in her criminal activities by an associate named Obedient, who provided financial assistance and paid commissions for the distribution of MD. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether this narcotic substance was distributed for sale in Pune and other locations.
