Nigerian gangs using Indian women for drug trafficking

Monday, 14 July 2008

Anti-narcotic agents are worried over the increasing use of Indian women, sex workers included, by Nigerian cartels to smuggle drugs.

NEW DELHI: Anti-narcotic agents are worried over the increasing use of Indian women, sex workers included, by Nigerian cartels to smuggle drugs. Until recently, Nigerian gangs in India were sending out heroin sourced from Afghanistan via Pakistan to Europe through unsuspecting courier companies. The traffickers would mostly conceal the drugs inside photo frames. They paid heavy service charges — no questions asked.

The modus operandi came to light when a booking agent found white powder leaking from a sealed parcel booked by a Nigerian. The Narcotics Control Bureau, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Delhi Police cracked down immediately.

But then the Nigerian gangs changed tracks. “These days, they do not book courier parcels themselves but exploit girls from northeastern states,” NCB zonal director Sandeep Mittal said. “They first befriend those who are into prostitution and then lure them into drug trafficking using money.”

Places in the capital where Nigerian gangs are said to be active are Satya Niketan, Munirka, Sadfarjung Enclave, Ber Sarai and Jiya Sarai in south Delhi and parts of north Delhi.

According to data with Delhi Police, around 2,500 Nigerians live in Delhi. NCB officials however put the figure at 8,000. Officials say most of them are living illegally without any genuine passport or with expired visa.“The situation is slowly slipping out of our hands. We need to take precaution, a Delhi Police officer said.