Telangana’s EAGLE Force busts Nigerian drug cartel, 50 arrested, Rs 3.5 crore seized

Telangana’s elite anti-narcotics unit, the EAGLE Force, on Friday announced the arrest of more than 50 Nigerian nationals in a massive multi-state crackdown on a Nigerian drug cartel operating across India. The operation, conducted in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi Police Crime Branch, and Noida Police, also led to the seizure of narcotics valued at Rs 3.5 crore, including 5,340 ecstasy pills, 250 grams of cocaine, 109 grams of heroin, and 250 grams of methamphetamine. The coordinated raids spanned 20 locations in Delhi, as well as operations in Noida, Gwalior, and Visakhapatnam. Key arrests included a major cartel kingpin, several women allegedly involved in drug sales and sex work, and multiple mule-account handlers. Investigators identified 59 mule accounts and 16 major cartel hubs, freezing 107 bank accounts linked to the network. Officials said the bust caused significant disruption to the cartel’s nationwide supply chain.

Investigations revealed that the cartel, allegedly led by a Nigerian operator named Nick, supplied drugs to over 2,000 consumers and peddlers across India. Payments were collected through hundreds of mule accounts, after which narcotics were concealed inside shoes, garments, cosmetics, slippers, and shipped via courier networks. The EAGLE Force traced 11 Hyderabad consumers directly sourcing from the cartel through bank transactions, courier data, and communication analysis. High-level coordination meetings ensured precise timing and execution. Teams fanned out from Delhi early on November 27, supported by technical and surveillance units from all participating agencies. Intelligence inputs also tracked three key suspects to Visakhapatnam, where they were arrested. Among the high-profile arrests was Badruddin, the alleged kingpin, and his associate Sama Umar, both living lavishly in Greater Noida without legitimate income. Police records indicated Rs 15 crore had circulated through six of Badruddin’s bank accounts, pointing to active money laundering. Officials noted that during raids, suspects sometimes refused to open doors, destroyed evidence, or hid narcotics, prompting police to prefer deportation over prosecution in certain cases. Many cartel members entered India on student visas but never attended classes, reportedly funding a lavish lifestyle through drug trafficking and the sex trade.

This large-scale bust is not isolated. Over the past few years, Hyderabad and Telangana have seen multiple arrests and deportations involving Nigerian nationals, primarily linked to synthetic-drug trafficking and visa violations. In early 2025, the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) arrested Nigerian nationals for MDMA and cocaine distribution, seizing over 1.3 kg of MDMA (Rs 1.6 crore). Other arrests involved overstaying Nigerians and those entering India via unofficial routes, such as Nepal, and integrating into local criminal networks. While Nigerians constitute the majority of foreign nationals involved in large-scale narcotics operations, authorities have also arrested nationals from Ghana, Cameroon, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and some European countries in connection with drugs, visa overstays, or illegal activities. Most Nigerians enter India on student, business, or tourist visas but sometimes overstay or discontinue the purpose of entry, integrating into trafficking networks. Authorities have highlighted gaps in monitoring, including minimal verification of class attendance for students, business legitimacy, and proper tracking of visa overstays.

According to media reports, 2025 has seen several major seizures in Telangana and Hyderabad. Beyond the Rs 3.5 crore bust by the EAGLE Force, other operations include 1.3 kg of MDMA (Rs 1.6 crore), cannabis and MDMA seizures totaling Rs 12 lakh, and large Ephedrine seizures worth Rs 72 crore, highlighting the scale of narcotics activity this year. Authorities also raised concerns over the misuse of banking channels, inadequate oversight of courier services, and the emergence of lawless ghettos serving as hubs for criminal activity. They warned that deported offenders sometimes re-enter India via duplicate passports, continuing illegal operations. The success of the EAGLE Force operation underscores the importance of inter-agency coordination across Telangana, Delhi, Noida, Visakhapatnam, and Gwalior. By dismantling a key Nigerian cartel, authorities not only disrupted a nationwide drug supply chain but also shed light on systemic vulnerabilities in visa issuance, courier monitoring, and financial oversight. Officials emphasized that continued vigilance, stricter monitoring, and collaboration across states and agencies remain crucial in combating foreign-organized narcotics networks.