Nigerian national arrested in Kerala in Gujarat mephedrone drug case
Synopsis
Gujarat Police followed a WhatsApp trail across three states — from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru to Kerala — to arrest a Nigerian national with a prior drug case in Kozhikode, allegedly the main supplier behind a ₹55.5 lakh mephedrone consignment. The case exposes how encrypted messaging is reshaping interstate drug supply chains in India.
Key Takeaways
Charles alias Frank Ofudile , 36 , a Nigerian national, was arrested from Kottiyam, Kollam district, Kerala by Ahmedabad City Police .
He is allegedly the main supplier behind 1,850 grams of mephedrone worth ₹55.5 lakh seized in Ahmedabad on 17 September 2024 .
Two earlier accused — Nikhilesh Krishnappa (Ahmedabad) and Vishal (Bengaluru) — had already been arrested in the same case.
Investigators traced Ofudile via his WhatsApp number using technical analysis and human intelligence.
Ofudile was previously named in a drug case at Nadakkavu Police Station, Kozhikode under the NDPS Act, 1985 .
The case is registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act at Naroda Police Station, Ahmedabad .
The Ahmedabad City Police have arrested a 36-year-old Nigerian national from Kerala for allegedly orchestrating the supply of 1.85 kg of mephedrone seized in Ahmedabad in September 2024, cracking open what investigators describe as an interstate drug trafficking network. The arrest marks a significant escalation in the probe, reaching the suspected main supplier across state lines.
Who Was Arrested and How
The accused has been identified as Charles alias Frank Ofudile, a native of Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria, who was reportedly residing near Banaswadi Fire Station in Bengaluru. He was apprehended from Kottiyam in Kollam district, Kerala, following technical analysis and human intelligence inputs coordinated by Naroda Police Station's surveillance sub-inspector V R Chaudhary. Investigators traced Ofudile through his WhatsApp number, which had been identified during earlier stages of the investigation.
How the Case Unfolded
The investigation traces back to 17 September 2024, when the Naroda Police arrested Nikhilesh Krishnappa, 24, near Chamunda Tyre shop close to Nana Chiloda Circle in Ahmedabad. Police recovered 1,850 grams of mephedrone valued at ₹55.5 lakh and a mobile phone worth ₹5,000 from his possession, bringing the total value of seized items to ₹55.55 lakh.
Investigators subsequently learnt that the consignment was destined for delivery in Bengaluru. Acting on a WhatsApp-sourced tip, a police team was dispatched to the city, where surveillance led to the arrest on 19 September 2024 of a second accused — Vishal, 28, originally from East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, and residing in Ramamurthy Nagar, Bengaluru — who had allegedly arrived to collect the drug consignment.
Prior Criminal Record and Legal Charges
Police records indicate that Ofudile was previously named in a drug case registered at Nadakkavu Police Station in Kozhikode City, Kerala, under Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The current Ahmedabad case has also been registered at Naroda Police Station under the same sections of the NDPS Act. Notably, this is not Ofudile's first brush with narcotics law enforcement in India.
Significance of the Interstate Network
The case underscores a pattern of cross-state drug supply chains where consignments originate or transit through one state and are distributed across others. This comes amid heightened scrutiny by Gujarat Police of mephedrone trafficking routes, with the drug — a synthetic stimulant — increasingly featuring in urban seizure cases across India. The use of encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to coordinate deliveries has become a recurring operational hallmark in such networks, according to investigators.
Further investigation into the full extent of the network is ongoing, and additional arrests cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
The question of how he remained operationally active across multiple states is one that goes beyond this single investigation. The mephedrone seizure figures are also rising nationally, and Gujarat's role as a transit and consumption hub warrants a systemic policy response, not just case-by-case arrests.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charles alias Frank Ofudile and why was he arrested?
Charles alias Frank Ofudile is a 36-year-old Nigerian national, originally from Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria, who was reportedly residing in Bengaluru. He was arrested from Kottiyam in Kollam district, Kerala, for allegedly being the main supplier behind a consignment of 1.85 kg of mephedrone seized by Ahmedabad Police in September 2024.
How did Gujarat Police trace the accused to Kerala?
Investigators identified Ofudile through his WhatsApp number, which surfaced during interrogation of earlier accused in the case. Naroda Police Station's surveillance sub-inspector V R Chaudhary conducted technical analysis combined with human intelligence inputs to locate and arrest him in Kerala.
What was the value of the drugs seized in the Ahmedabad case?
Police recovered 1,850 grams of mephedrone valued at ₹55.5 lakh, along with a mobile phone worth ₹5,000, bringing the total value of seized items to ₹55.55 lakh. The seizure was made near Nana Chiloda Circle in Ahmedabad on 17 September 2024.
Does Ofudile have a prior criminal record in India?
Yes. Police records show that Ofudile was previously named in a drug case registered at Nadakkavu Police Station in Kozhikode City, Kerala, under Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. The current Ahmedabad case is registered under the same sections.
How many people have been arrested in this drug case so far?
Three people have been arrested in connection with the case: Nikhilesh Krishnappa (24) in Ahmedabad on 17 September 2024, Vishal (28) in Bengaluru on 19 September 2024, and Charles alias Frank Ofudile in Kerala. Investigation is ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.
