A Nigerian man identified as Emmanuel Bediako, popularly known as Maxwell, has been arrested by operatives of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau in India over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
According to reports, the 34-year-old was apprehended on Sunday in the Sainikpuri area of Hyderabad.
Authorities disclosed that Bediako had been operating in India for over a decade and had reportedly made more than Rs 1.17 crore (approximately $145,636) in commissions from drug deals involving substances worth several crores.
Indian newspaper, The Hindu reported that officials recovered 150 grams of high-purity cocaine—referred to in the local black market as “celebrity cocaine”—and 1,100 ecstasy pills during the operation.
Director of the Anti-Narcotics Bureau, Sandeep Shandilya, described Maxwell as a significant figure in a wider West African drug syndicate believed to be operating across multiple Indian states.
Shandilya said the suspect had entered India multiple times since 2013 using forged passports and fake identities. On his first visit, Maxwell allegedly obtained a medical visa under false pretences but never visited the hospital listed in his documents.
Instead, he joined his cousin, known as Romey, in Goa.
Romey, said to be the leader of the cartel, is believed to be coordinating operations from Nigeria.
Indian authorities say he uses Maxwell and other operatives on the ground to manage drug distribution networks and local deliveries.
Investigators revealed that Maxwell relied on burner phones, frequently changed locations to avoid detection, and laundered proceeds through Nigerian bank accounts and Indian hawala networks.
After operating for years in Goa, he reportedly moved to Hyderabad to explore new markets due to rising local demand.
The suspect was eventually arrested at a friend’s residence in Sainikpuri.
Police seized the drugs along with two mobile phones containing financial transaction data and images of past consignments.
Officials disclosed that Maxwell sold cocaine at Rs 25,000 per gram and ecstasy pills at Rs 6,000 each.
Data recovered from the seized phones revealed over 150 financial transactions involving Nigerian banks including GTBank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint MFB. These transactions are believed to be connected to Romey, his wife Ugwu Promise Nnenna, and his brother-in-law.
Authorities also stated that Maxwell had previously lived in a luxury villa in Goa but fled due to intensified police surveillance.
“This is not just another case of drug peddling. It is a well-organised transnational operation involving forged documents, international money laundering, and the deliberate targeting of Indian youth,” Shandilya said.
A Red Corner Notice may soon be issued for Romey and other Nigerian nationals suspected of being involved in the syndicate.
In response to the growing concern, Indian authorities have issued advisories to landlords in key areas such as Paramount Colony, Brundavan Colony, Sainikpuri, Tolichowki, and Banjara Hills, urging them to report foreign tenants to local police.
This arrest comes shortly after Indian law enforcement apprehended four other Nigerians, including two women, in separate drug-related cases across the country.
