Indore, India – Indian police have arrested a 37-year-old Nigerian man, Jacob Nnabuike Ugwu, for allegedly operating a cross-state drug trafficking network distributing MDMA. The arrest follows an ongoing crackdown on narcotics distribution involving both foreign nationals and local accomplices.
Ugwu, originally from Enugu City in Nigeria, was apprehended by the Indore Crime Branch after investigators traced his alleged involvement through two Indian nationals previously caught with illegal substances. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajesh Dandotiya, Ugwu is suspected to be a key figure in a larger drug distribution operation spanning multiple Indian states.
Authorities say Ugwu entered India a year ago under the guise of seeking employment as a hotel chef. He had been living in Delhi’s Krishnapuri area, where he reportedly operated a refreshment shop. Police now believe the shop served as a front for his narcotics business.
The investigation began when two men, Hariom Jha and Lakshya Singh Rajput, both 26, were arrested near Indore’s MR10 Bridge with 36 grams of MDMA, a Tata Altroz vehicle, and multiple mobile phones. During interrogation, the duo allegedly confessed that the drugs had been supplied by a Nigerian contact in Delhi—identified as Ugwu.
“The arrest of Jacob Ugwu was a direct outcome of actionable intelligence and interrogation of the two local suspects,” said DCP Dandotiya. “He admitted to distributing MD drugs through members of his network for the past year while operating out of Delhi.”
The case has been registered under Crime Number 81/25, with charges filed under Sections 8 and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Ugwu is currently in police custody as authorities continue to unravel the extent of the trafficking ring.
Police believe more arrests could follow as the investigation widens to identify other members and sources connected to the network. The case highlights the growing concern over international elements in India’s domestic drug trade and the sustained efforts by law enforcement to curb the spread of narcotics.
