A Nigerian national, Chijioke Uchechukwu alias Peter and one other person, Seelam Sai Krishna of Manikonda, have been arrested after the police in Hyderabad, India, busted an international drug peddling racket.
The two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 in a combined operation conducted by Special Operation Team (SOT) L B Nagar zone along with Neredmet police.
Thirty grams of methamphetamine (MDMA) drug and other property worth Rs 6 lakh were seized from the suspects.
Uchechukwu was found to be illegally staying in India, even as his visa expired in 2015 while Krishna, worked as a freelance US recruiter. The third accused person, Chijioke Okordo, who is currently absconding, is stated to be in Mumbai.
Both drug peddlers were caught red-handed by police while they were waiting near RK Puram bridge in Neredmet to hand over the drugs to customers. 30 grams of Methamphetamine was seized from their possession.
The police said Chijioke Uchechukwu popularly known in the drug market as Peter confessed that he had recently purchased the drugs from Okordo and brought them to Hyderabad for the new year.
Sai Krishna, a B.Tech drop out came in contact with Chijioke at an OYO Hotel in Manikonda six months ago after which both the accused started supplying synthetic drugs together.
Chijioke came to India in the year 2014 on student visa for attending computer courses at Mumbai, came in contact with a drug peddler in the city in 2017 and in the same year, got arrested in an NDPS case by the Pune police and was sent to prison, said Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat in a press meet on Tuesday.
In August 2022, Chijioke came in contact with the third accused in the case, Okordo, who paid him Rs. 10,000 to supply the drugs to people in Mumbai and Pune, Bhagwat added.
“Our Special Branch (SB) officials are constantly monitoring the activities and visa and educational details of the foreigners. Several foreigners have already been deported due to overstay,” Mahesh Bhagwat said.
The arrests were made under the direct supervision of Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Malkajiri, K Rakshitha K Murthy and under the guidance of DCP, SOT, Rachakonda Muralidhar and other senior officials.
Further probe is ongoing.