Police Recover Over 5kg of Methamphetamine Worth More Than ₹10 Crore, Five Phones and Two Passports
A 27-year-old Nigerian identified as Obase Prosper, an indigene of Imo State, has been arrested in Delhi, India, over allegations of drug trafficking and involvement in a romance fraud syndicate.
According to Indian authorities, Prosper was arrested on Friday evening at RK Puram during a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Security operatives reportedly recovered 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than ₹10 crore, as well as five mobile phones and two international passports.
Investigators alleged that Prosper entered India in 2023 on a medical visa but remained in the country after the visa expired.
Police further claimed that he later became a key member of an organised criminal network allegedly involved in romance scams targeting Indian citizens through social media platforms.
According to investigators, members of the syndicate allegedly created fake identities posing as citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to establish romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims.
The suspects allegedly convinced victims that expensive gift parcels had been sent to them from abroad before demanding large sums of money under the pretext of paying customs clearance charges after claiming the parcels had been seized by Indian customs authorities.
Authorities said the investigation gained momentum after a resident of Lucknow reported losing approximately ₹68 lakh to a suspected fraudster using the fake identity “Doris William.”
Police disclosed that another Nigerian suspect identified as Uchenwa had earlier been arrested on May 15 in connection with the same alleged fraud network.
Investigations are ongoing as Indian authorities seek to identify other members of the syndicate and determine the full extent of its operations.
IBN NEWS will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
