Bengaluru: Major drug haul; Nigerian national nabbed for illicit drug manufacturing

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested a Nigerian national, Benjamin Ali Yass Chidubemu (40), for allegedly manufacturing synthetic drugs in a pressure cooker and distributing them to both domestic and foreign markets. The accused, believed to be an illegal resident with an expired visa, was arrested in Bangalore, and narcotics worth Rs. 10 crore were seized.

The suspect, who arrived in Bangalore on a business visa in 2021, reportedly sourced raw materials from Delhi and Mumbai to produce drugs. The CCB discovered the illegal drug operation when the accused was previously arrested for MDMA distribution.

During the investigation, it was revealed that he had been preparing drugs at his residence using a pressure cooker and then distributing them through couriers at the interstate and international levels based on customer demand.

The seized items included 5 kg of MDMA, 12 kg of raw materials for MDMA production, 450 grams of MSM, 5 kg of sodium hydroxide crystal, 5 liters of hydrochloric acid, 2.5 liters of acetone, a cooker, gas stove, cylinder, 2 mobile phones, 2 weighing machines, and a motorcycle.

The operation was led by CCB DCP Srinivasa Gowda.