A Nigerian national identified as Emmanuel Bediako, also known by the alias Maxwell, has been arrested by Indian authorities in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking operation.
The 34-year-old was taken into custody by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau on Sunday in the Sainikpuri area of Hyderabad.
According to local sources, Bediako is suspected of having earned over ₹1.17 crore (approximately $145,000) in commission from distributing drugs across India over the past ten years.
During the arrest, officials recovered 150 grams of highly potent cocaine—referred to in local illegal markets as “celebrity cocaine”—as well as 1,100 ecstasy tablets.
Sandeep Shandilya, head of the state’s anti-narcotics bureau, revealed that Bediako was considered a key figure in a wider drug network believed to have roots in West Africa but operating actively within India.
Investigators say the suspect used forged passports and false identities to enter India on at least three occasions, beginning in 2013.
Although he claimed to be on a medical visa, officials said he never visited the hospital mentioned in his travel documents.
Instead, he allegedly joined his cousin—identified as Romey, the cartel’s suspected ringleader—who is believed to be directing operations remotely from Nigeria.
Authorities allege that Maxwell used burner phones, changed residences frequently to avoid detection, and funneled his earnings through informal money transfer systems and Nigerian banking channels.
His operations reportedly began in Goa, a known hotspot for drug activity, before he relocated to Hyderabad in early 2025 to expand the group’s reach.
Police say the suspect was arrested at a friend’s home, where illegal substances, mobile devices containing transactional evidence, and photos linked to past drug consignments were recovered.
The seized materials revealed that cocaine was being sold for ₹25,000 per gram, while ecstasy pills were going for ₹6,000 each.
Analysis of his phone records reportedly uncovered more than 150 financial transactions involving Nigerian banks such as GTBank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint.
These transfers were allegedly connected to Romey, his wife Ugwu Promise Nnenna, and a brother-in-law, all of whom are believed to be part of the same criminal network.
Prior to his move to Hyderabad, Bediako is said to have operated from a high-end villa in Goa, but growing pressure from law enforcement forced him to relocate.
“This is more than just a case of drug peddling,” Shandilya said. “It exposes a well-organized, cross-border criminal operation involving forged documents, money laundering, and deliberate targeting of vulnerable youth.”
Authorities are now considering issuing a Red Corner Notice through Interpol for Romey and other individuals still at large.
In response to rising concerns, local officials have advised landlords in neighborhoods like Tolichowki, Sainikpuri, Brundavan Colony, Paramount Colony, and Banjara Hills to notify law enforcement about any foreign nationals residing in their properties.
Bediako’s arrest comes shortly after four other Nigerians—including two women—were detained in unrelated drug cases across India.
