NCB arrests 5 foreigners in ₹15 crore drug bust across Delhi, UP
Synopsis
Five foreign nationals — four identified as Nigerians — were allegedly running a transnational drug ring from New Delhi and Gurugram while living in India on long-expired visas. The NCB's three-city, multi-week operation netted nearly ₹15 crore in narcotics, and exposed an overlap between immigration violations, cyber fraud, and organised drug trafficking.
Key Takeaways
The NCB arrested five foreign nationals , including a woman, for allegedly operating a transnational drug trafficking network across New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh .
Seized contraband includes 14.787 kg of amphetamine , 67.840 kg of pseudoephedrine , 318 grams of cocaine , and 6 grams of heroin — valued at nearly ₹15 crore .
Four of the five arrested are Nigerian nationals: Obase Prosper Ogboronjor , Abuchi George Okorie , Uchenna Stephen Nwanko , and Chikezie Joshua Igwe .
At least two accused had been living illegally in India for 13 years ; one had overstayed a visa that expired in June 2015 .
A female suspect was injured after jumping from a balcony during a search at Mehrauli, New Delhi on 3 August ; her identity is still being established.
One accused, Ogboronjor , was also wanted by the UP STF in a cyber-fraud case involving approximately ₹68 lakh .
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested five foreign nationals, including a woman, who were illegally residing in India and allegedly operating a transnational drug trafficking network spanning New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The operation yielded contraband collectively valued at nearly ₹15 crore, according to an official statement released on Tuesday, 18 August.
Scale of the Seizure
The haul includes 14.787 kg of amphetamine, 67.840 kg of pseudoephedrine, 318 grams of cocaine, and 6 grams of heroin. The pseudoephedrine seizure is particularly significant — it is a notified controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and can be chemically diverted for the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine.
Who Was Arrested and Where
Three separate search operations led to the arrests. On 18 July, a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the NCB at Raju Park, Khanpur, New Delhi, resulted in the recovery of 5.087 kg of amphetamine and the arrest of Nigerian national Obase Prosper Ogboronjor. According to the NCB, he had been overstaying in India after his medical visa expired in June 2023, and the UP STF also wanted him in a separate cyber-fraud case involving approximately ₹68 lakh.
On 21 July, a follow-up search at a premises in Hans Enclave, Gurugram, led to the recovery of 9.7 kg of amphetamine and 67.84 kg of pseudoephedrine, and the arrest of Nigerian national Abuchi George Okorie. Investigators found that Okorie had entered India on a medical attendant visa valid only until June 2015 and had been residing illegally in the country ever since.
On 3 August, tracing backward linkages in the case, the NCB identified and searched a premises in Mehrauli, New Delhi, recovering 318 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of heroin. Two more Nigerian nationals — Uchenna Stephen Nwanko and Chikezie Joshua Igwe — were arrested. Both had reportedly been living illegally in India for the past 13 years.
Woman Suspect Injured During Escape Attempt
During the Mehrauli search, a female accomplice attempted to flee by jumping from a balcony, sustaining injuries in the process. She is currently under medical treatment, according to the NCB. Her identity is still being established, though she is believed to be a national of an African country. She is the fifth person arrested in connection with the operation.
Broader Implications
This operation is notable for the convergence of immigration violations, cyber fraud, and narcotics trafficking within a single network. The involvement of multiple agencies — the NCB and UP STF — and the multi-city footprint of the alleged ring suggest a structured, long-running operation rather than an isolated incident. Notably, at least two of the accused had been in India illegally for over a decade, raising questions about immigration enforcement gaps. The NCB has indicated that investigations into further linkages are ongoing.
Point of View
In part, by a decade-long failure of immigration enforcement. Two of the accused had been living illegally in India since 2012 — meaning they slipped through every routine check for 13 years. The pseudoephedrine volume is the real alarm signal; at 67-plus kilograms, this is precursor-scale, not personal use, pointing to a supply chain with downstream manufacturing ambitions. The cyber-fraud angle on one accused suggests these networks are not single-crime operations but diversified criminal enterprises — a pattern that demands inter-agency coordination well beyond a single successful bust.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs did the NCB seize in the Delhi and UP operation?
The NCB seized 14.787 kg of amphetamine, 67.840 kg of pseudoephedrine, 318 grams of cocaine, and 6 grams of heroin, with the combined value estimated at nearly ₹15 crore. Pseudoephedrine is a controlled substance under the NDPS Act that can be used to manufacture methamphetamine illicitly.
Who are the five foreign nationals arrested by the NCB?
Four of the five are identified Nigerian nationals: Obase Prosper Ogboronjor, Abuchi George Okorie, Uchenna Stephen Nwanko, and Chikezie Joshua Igwe. The fifth, a woman believed to be from an African country, was injured while attempting to escape and her identity is still being established by the NCB.
How long had the accused been living illegally in India?
At least two of the accused — Nwanko and Igwe — had reportedly been residing illegally in India for 13 years. Okorie's visa had expired in June 2015, and Ogboronjor's medical visa lapsed in June 2023, according to the NCB.
Was any other crime linked to the accused?
Yes. Obase Prosper Ogboronjor was also wanted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in a separate cyber-fraud case involving approximately ₹68 lakh, according to the NCB statement.
How was the NCB operation conducted?
The operation unfolded across three locations over several weeks. A joint NCB and UP STF search at Khanpur, New Delhi on 18 July led to the first arrest; a follow-up search at Hans Enclave, Gurugram on 21 July yielded the largest drug haul; and a third search at Mehrauli, New Delhi on 3 August resulted in two more arrests and the recovery of cocaine and heroin.
