AHMEDABAD: The
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday seized 273g of cocaine, worth Rs 1.50 crore in the international market, from a Nigerian national who had brought the contraband from Mumbai. For the first time ever, cocaine meant for consumption in Ahmedabad has been seized, the agency officials claimed.
NCB booked the Nigerian man, identified as Victor Namani, around 27 years of age and a resident of Mira Road in Mumbai, under the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was nabbed from CTM Crossroads in the city on Friday.
“The Gujarat zonal unit of the NCB nabbed the Nigerian man, who was aboard a private travels bus coming from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. He had wrapped the cocaine in biscuits wrappers in such a way that no one would sense anything amiss on a cursory glance,” said Hariom Gandhi, zonal director of the Gujarat NCB.
The man had brought a cocaine consignment of nearly the same quantity to the city on August 3 as well, Gandhi added.
“In the last five years, cocaine was seized only twice, from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, while it was being trafficked between Delhi and Mumbai. This is the first time that the cocaine was meant for consumption in Ahmedabad itself,” said Gandhi.
NCB officials said the accused had thrown away his passport so his real identity is uncertain. “On being asked his name, he is giving five or six names different names,” said an NCB official.
Victor Namani.
