₦airaland Forum

Operatives of the Indian Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau have arrested a Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, popularly known as Maxwell, for alleged drug trafficking.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Wednesday that the 34-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday in the Sainikpuri area of Hyderabad. He reportedly confessed to earning over Rs Rs1.17 crore (approximately $145,636) in commissions after trafficking drugs worth several crores over more than a decade in India.

According to a report by The Hindu, an Indian news outlet, officers of the Bureau seized 150 grams of high-purity cocaine, branded in underground drug markets as “celebrity cocaine,” alongside 1,100 ecstasy pills.

The Director of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, Sandeep Shandilya, said Maxwell was believed to be a key player in a larger West African drug cartel operating across India.

“He entered the country using fake identities and forged passports and had been operating primarily from Goa before moving to Hyderabad in a bid to expand the cartel’s network,” Shandilya stated.

Shandilya added that Maxwell had entered India on three different occasions, beginning in 2013.

“He initially came on a medical visa under false pretences and never visited the hospital or city mentioned in his documents. Instead, he joined his cousin and alleged cartel boss, Romey, in Goa,” Shandilya disclosed.

Romey, who is reportedly operating from Nigeria, is said to control the cartel’s activities remotely, using Maxwell and other foot soldiers to manage local deliveries and supply chains.

“During his time in India, Maxwell operated using burner phones, moved frequently to avoid detection, and laundered his earnings through a wide network of Nigerian bank accounts and Indian hawala routes.

“After exhausting the Goa market, the cartel directed Maxwell to scout Hyderabad, citing rising demand,” Shandilya explained.

The report further revealed that Maxwell arrived in Hyderabad in early 2025 and began establishing a local distribution network.

He was eventually arrested at a friend’s residence in Sainikpuri, where the police recovered the narcotics, two mobile phones containing transaction data, and photographs of previous consignments.

The police said Maxwell sold cocaine at Rs25,000 per gram and ecstasy pills at Rs6,000 apiece.

Data extracted from his devices, according to the report, revealed over 150 bank transactions involving Nigerian financial institutions such as GT Bank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint MFB.

The transactions reportedly link to Romey, his wife, Ugwu Promise Nnenna, and his brother-in-law.

The police also stated that Maxwell had previously operated out of a luxury villa in Goa but was forced to relocate due to mounting police pressure.

“This isn’t just a case of drug peddling. It’s an organised transnational racket involving multiple countries, fake documents, money laundering, and systematic targeting of Indian youth,” Shandilya said.

The report further stated that a Red Corner Notice may soon be issued for Romey and other absconding Nigerian nationals connected to the network.

Meanwhile, India has issued advisories to property owners in areas such as Paramount Colony, Brundavan Colony, Sainikpuri, Tolichowki, and Banjara Hills, urging them to report any foreign nationals staying in rented apartments.

This latest arrest comes just days after four other Nigerians, including two women, were arrested in separate incidents across India for similar drug-related offences.

He entered the country using fake identities and forged passports

The transactions reportedly link to Romey, his wife, Ugwu Promise Nnenna,

Cowardigbos:
Yet his tribesmen would be the loudest one accusing their President of being a drug pusher!


Always justifying Crimes and rubbish.

Cowardigbos:
Yet his tribesmen would be the loudest one accusing their President of being a drug pusher!


Always justifying Crimes and rubbish.

Commentor:
They have the audacity to be labelling our president.

Tobokongs:
These people are giving us bad image worldwide. And one thing about them is that they love to commit crimes without being called out.

Even on this platform they don’t want people to call out their crimes but they won’t advise themselves to shun crimes.


The other tribes not known for crimes are the ones at the receiving end.

The other time a cousin lost a job because he is Nigerian You call out the tribe committing crimes worldwide, they ban you on this platform.

What could be worse than losing a job because some people are committing crimes? But calling the criminals out is worse

Tobokongs:
These people are giving us bad image worldwide. And one thing about them is that they love to commit crimes without being called out.

Even on this platform they don’t want people to call out their crimes but they won’t advise themselves to shun crimes.


The other tribes not known for crimes are the ones at the receiving end.

The other time a cousin lost a job because he is Nigerian You call out the tribe committing crimes worldwide, they ban you on this platform.

What could be worse than losing a job because some people are committing crimes? But calling the criminals out is worse