A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, has been arrested by India’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) Anti-Narcotics Wing in Bengaluru for allegedly trafficking narcotics valued at over ₦1.8 billion.
Akinwunmi, who identified herself as a hairstylist and nail artist, reportedly arrived in India to establish a beauty salon. However, her plans took a drastic turn on Tuesday, June 10, when officers arrested her at Tarahunase village, Rajanukunte Main Road in Bengaluru.
Authorities say she was caught with 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, concealed in a travel bag alongside 11 new churidars (traditional Indian outfits). The haul is estimated to be worth Rs 10 crore, equivalent to over ₦1.8 billion.
According to information, Akinwunmi—popularly known as “Princess”—was acting as a courier and was expected to deliver the drugs to a group of African traffickers. She was intercepted by officers acting on a tip-off after arriving from Delhi.
“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers,” a police officer stated. “We noticed four men on two scooters in the area, but they didn’t collect the parcel. Princess was arrested while standing with the bag.”
During interrogation, Akinwunmi claimed ignorance about the drug contents, insisting a friend in Delhi asked her to deliver the bag to a man wearing a black hat. She also stated she was in India to open a salon and identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant, though she withheld further personal information.
Investigators revealed she entered India in October 2021 on a business visa, which she later converted to a student visa for a university in Telangana. However, she never enrolled and has overstayed illegally since her visa expired in 2022.
Her arrest comes just two days after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako (alias Maxwell), was apprehended in a similar drug case by Telangana authorities.
Police say they are pursuing leads on her boyfriend, believed to be a key link in the trafficking network, who is currently on the run. Akinwunmi has been transferred to Chikkajala Police Station for further investigation.