UP STF arrests Nigerian national in Delhi for cyber fraud, ₹10 crore drugs seized
Synopsis
A Nigerian national living illegally in South Delhi was arrested by the UP STF in a joint operation with the NCB — caught not just for running a multi-victim online parcel scam that netted lakhs per target, but also found carrying over 5 kg of methamphetamine worth ₹10 crore. The case exposes a layered criminal operation combining identity fraud, social engineering, and narcotics trafficking.
Key Takeaways
UP STF arrested Obase Prosper , a 27-year-old Nigerian national , from South Delhi on 19 July for cyber fraud and drug possession.
5.085 kg of methamphetamine worth over ₹10 crore was recovered, along with five mobile phones and two passports .
Prosper allegedly posed as a US or UK citizen on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to defraud victims through a fake parcel scam.
A youth from Daliganj, Lucknow was allegedly duped of ₹68 lakh in one such case.
Prosper had entered India in 2023 on a medical visa and was reportedly living illegally after its expiry.
The arrest was a joint operation between the UP STF and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) ; further investigation is underway.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Nigerian national from South Delhi for allegedly running an organised online fraud racket that targeted Indian citizens through fake social media profiles, officials said on Sunday, 19 July. The accused was also found in possession of 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over ₹10 crore in the international market.
Who Was Arrested
The accused, identified as Obase Prosper, 27, was residing at house number 2/10, Raju Park, South Delhi at the time of his arrest. According to the STF, Prosper had entered India in 2023 on a medical visa and continued to live in the country illegally after his visa expired.
Investigators recovered 5.085 kg of methamphetamine, five mobile phones, and two passports from his possession. The narcotics are estimated to be worth more than ₹10 crore in the international market, officials said.
How the Fraud Was Operated
Prosper allegedly posed as a citizen of the United States or the United Kingdom on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, befriending young men and women across India and other countries. After gaining their trust, he would allegedly claim to be sending expensive gifts or foreign-currency parcels to the victims.
Victims were then reportedly contacted by accomplices posing as Customs or Income Tax Department officials, who claimed the parcels had been seized at the airport and demanded payment of taxes or release charges. Using this method, the gang allegedly cheated victims of lakhs of rupees.
In one documented case, Prosper allegedly befriended a youth from Daliganj, Lucknow via Facebook and duped him of ₹68 lakh. A case linked to this incident was already registered at Madeyganj Police Station, and the STF had been pursuing Prosper as part of that investigation. Another accused, identified as Uchenwa, allegedly assisted him in carrying out the fraud.
Joint Operation With NCB
On 15 May, the STF had arrested one of Prosper's associates in Delhi. During the subsequent investigation, the agency received inputs suggesting Prosper was also involved in drug trafficking. Acting on this intelligence, the STF conducted a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to apprehend him.
During interrogation, Prosper allegedly disclosed that several other members were part of the syndicate. He reportedly admitted that after their visas expired, he and his associates continued living in India illegally while impersonating American and British nationals to defraud Indian and foreign citizens.
What Happens Next
Further investigation into the syndicate's full network is currently underway. The dual nature of the case — cyber fraud combined with narcotics trafficking — points to a broader organised criminal operation that authorities are working to dismantle.
Point of View
Yet it continues to claim victims in the lakhs. The fact that a single accused was simultaneously running a cyber fraud ring and holding ₹10 crore worth of methamphetamine signals organised crime convergence — not isolated opportunism. Authorities need to examine how Prosper's network sustained itself for over two years post-visa expiry without detection, and whether immigration enforcement gaps are being systematically exploited.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Obase Prosper and why was he arrested?
Obase Prosper is a 27-year-old Nigerian national who was arrested by the UP STF in South Delhi on 19 July for allegedly running an online fraud racket targeting Indian citizens through fake social media profiles. He was also found in possession of 5.085 kg of methamphetamine worth over ₹10 crore.
How did the cyber fraud scheme work?
The accused allegedly posed as a US or UK citizen on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to befriend victims and gain their trust. He would then claim to be sending expensive gifts or foreign currency, after which accomplices posing as Customs or Income Tax officials would demand payment for the 'release' of seized parcels — cheating victims of lakhs of rupees.
How much money was allegedly defrauded in individual cases?
In one documented case, the accused allegedly defrauded a youth from Daliganj, Lucknow of ₹68 lakh through the fake parcel scheme on Facebook.
How was Obase Prosper caught?
The UP STF had arrested one of Prosper's associates in Delhi on 15 May. During that investigation, intelligence emerged linking Prosper to drug trafficking. The STF then conducted a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to arrest him.
Was Obase Prosper in India legally?
No. According to the STF, Prosper entered India in 2023 on a medical visa but continued to reside in the country illegally after his visa expired. He reportedly admitted that other syndicate members were similarly living in India illegally.
