25-yr-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa arrested in India with N1.8bn drugs

Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, a 25 year-old Nigerian woman has been arrested in India after she was allegedly caught in possession of drugs worth over N1.8bn.

Ms. Akinwumi, a hairstylist and nail artist, who was arrested last Tuesday by operatives of the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru risks up to 20 years jail.

According to Indian newspaper, Akinwumi was apprehended at the Tarahunase village, along Rajanukunte Main Road, after arriving from Delhi with a suspicious bag.

The suspicious bag contained 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, a banned party drug, The New Indian Express reported.

The contraband was concealed among 11 new churidars — traditional Indian outfits.

“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers.

“We noticed four men on two scooters in the area, but they did not collect the parcel. Akinwunmi was arrested while standing with the bag,” a police officer involved in the operation was quoted as saying.

The suspect, according to reports claimed she travelled to India to establish a beauty salon.

However, she is now facing charges under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.

Section 23 of the NDPS Act stipulates severe penalties for those caught importing, exporting, or transhipping narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Offenders found with a commercial quantity, such as the MDMA seized from Akinwunmi, face a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, in addition to heavy fines.