Nigerian Woman Faces 20-Year Sentence in India Over N1.8bn Drug Bust

Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi

A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, could spend up to 20 years behind bars in India after being allegedly caught with hard drugs valued at over ₦1.8 billion.

Akinwunmi, who is said to be a hairstylist and nail technician, was arrested last Tuesday by Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics Wing. Authorities nabbed her in Tarahunase village along Rajanukunte Main Road shortly after she arrived from Delhi carrying a suspicious bag.

Upon inspection, officials discovered 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals—commonly known as ecstasy—concealed inside 11 churidars, a type of traditional Indian clothing.

Police described her as a drug courier who was reportedly set to deliver the consignment to a group of African traffickers. “We saw four men on two scooters nearby, but they didn’t pick up the parcel. She was arrested while waiting with the bag,” an officer said.

Akinwunmi claimed she came to India with plans to open a beauty salon. However, she now faces serious legal trouble under India’s strict anti-drug laws, including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and the Foreigners Act of 1946.

Under Section 23 of the NDPS Act, individuals caught with commercial quantities of banned substances face a minimum prison term of 10 years, which could extend to 20 years, along with fines ranging from one to two lakh rupees.

In addition, the Foreigners Act empowers Indian authorities to prosecute and deport foreign nationals involved in criminal activity.

Her arrest comes just two days after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, also known as Maxwell, was arrested by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau for allegedly trafficking drugs.

Punch

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