The anti-narcotics cell (ANC) attached to the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police have apprehended two Nigerian nationals who were found to be in possession of cocaine valued at more than Rs.1.20 crore in the international market.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from the ANC headed by police inspector-Amar Marathe laid a trap on the road running parallel to the railway tracks near the Mira Road railway station a little past midnight on Saturday. The team spotted two Nigerian nationals and took them into custody after they found their movements to be suspicious. Upon frisking, they were found to be in possession of two sachets containing 160 grams of cocaine worth more than Rs.1.20 crore.
The peddlers have been identified as- Mike Okocha (40) and Jekwu Samuel (45)- both Nigerian nationals who were currently residing in Mira Road. The duo also failed to produce legitimate documents to authorise their stay in the country. Not ruling out the possibility of the duo of being members of an organised drug cartel, police inspector- Amar Marathe said, “Apart from investigating the source of the drugs and their potential, we are scanning their activities and background to ascertain if they have any criminal cases registered against them in the past.”
Meanwhile an offence under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and provisions of the Indian Passport Act and Foreigners Act-1967 has been registered at the Naya Nagar police station against the accused duo who have been remanded to custody. “Our drive under the guidance of commissioner- Madhukar Pandey will continue until the entire drug and illegal immigrant menace is weeded out from the region.” added Marathe.
The case has been handed over to the Naya Nagar police to conduct further investigations.
