19 November 2010
Hyderabad, India
VITAL LINK: Police take away Chima from whom 45 grams of cocaine was seized in the city on Thursday
The accused are Ejiofer Chima Collins, 36, a Nigerian national, and Mohammed Shaik Akeel, 35. The duo are residents of Meera Road in Mumbai.
"Obviously, the demand for the drug has not ceased despite the arrest of the local peddlers, which is why those in the trade from Mumbai have landed here," an official said. The value of the drug is estimated to be Rs 3.5 lakh in the market but could fetch much more in a city like Hyderabad, police sources said. Drug peddler dodged airport security
Producing the duo at a press conference here on Thursday, Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan said following the series of arrests of peddlers selling cocaine for the past one month, a special team of city police began keeping watch on the possible customer pools like colleges, pubs and hukka joints.
After a close surveillance, a trap was laid and the duo caught red–handed when they were trying to sell the drug to a west zone police decoy party led by Banjara Hills SI Khaleel Pasha. Police seized 45 grams of cocaine from Chima and 35 grams from Akeel. The contraband was stored in small plastic bottles.
They were nabbed while waiting near a green Maruti Zen for a customer.
The duo confessed to the cops that they are here to sell cocaine to customers at Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,200 per gram. The commissioner said the case will now be transferred to Central Crime Station (CCS) police to pin down national and international players of the cartel.
According to the commissioner, the two have been selling cocaine across all metros by taking orders from their local agents. After taking orders, the duo personally deliver the cocaine to customers at pre–designated spots including hotels, pubs, marriage halls, resorts and farmhouses.
Chima, from Lagos in Nigeria, came to India in 2008 on a business visa. His visa gets expired at the end of this month. According to DCP M Stephen Ravindra, after crackdown on the city coke supplying chain, cocaine is being supplied into the city directly by peddlers from Mumbai and the price has also gone up from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per gram. The duo have been frequenting the city for the past few months.
Khan said the city police will work in association with the Mumbai Narcotic Cell to crack down on the supply chain. He also said that screening teams at Shamshabad airport will be alerted about cocaine smugglers as most of the peddlers have been transporting the drugs by travelling in flights.
Chima confessed that he had concealed cocaine sachets inside his vest and managed to pass through airport security, Khan said.
Cases were registered against the accused under sections 8, 21 (b) & (c) of N D P S Act. The accused were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.
One more Nigerian national is said to be absconding and police launched a manhunt to nab him. With New Year approaching, commissioner has ordered inspectors of all police stations to step up vigil on pubs, hotels and farmhouses to curb any kind of narcotic drug consumption.
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