On March 6, the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) of Ahmedabad nabbed the Kingpin the of Cocaine Drug racket. He was identified as Ramvirpal John Somadina, 41 a Nigerian national, who stayed in Bangalore and was brought to Ahmedabad.

Prima facie, it was found out John, was a pan-India supplier of drugs like cocaine, heroin, and other chemical drugs, including amphetamine. He used to coordinate with the drug cartel that was involved in illegally smuggling drugs from South America and Africa into the country.

It was revealed during his interrogation that several Nigerian carriers were assigned from supplies to India through various routes. He was the mastermind behind managing the racket i.e. from booking flights tickets of the carriers to staying in hotels in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochin, Bangalore etc.

Hari Om Gandhi, Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), said, "Around 14 Nigerians have been nabbed over last 10 months from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Mumbai and Bangalore. The racket has been operating 2007. We cracked down on a major lead, through which the main conspirator was arrested."

The Nigerian has a huge nexus to a gang that runs gangs in Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. There are other Kingpins like Ramvirpal, who operates from India and smuggle cocaine abroad.

Further probe revealed that cocaine is smuggled into India through barter deal. Cocaine is brought in exchange for Nigerian drugs, that come from South America.

How is cocaine smuggled into India from Nigeria and South America?

-Coca leaves are usually grown in Peru, Columbia and Bolivia, where it is processed and smuggled to consumers in the US and Europe

-Cocaine is smuggled into Mexico through Nigerian gangs, from which it is shipped to Nigeria

- From Africa, carriers of the Nigerian gang members, smuggle the cocaine to India through fights. The smugglers never take direct flights from Nigeria to India

- Most of the Carriers enter India on the basis of medical permit Visa, student visa and business visa or a cloth trader.

- Once the cocaine is smuggled to Indian metro cities, the carriers and the gangs look after transportation and living cost of the members. They transport the cocaine in small quantities to other cities through the road

How Nigerian drug rackets work in India?

- Nigerian drug rackets operate in Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Cochin and Hyderabad.

- Most of the cocaine is consumed by states which have night life. The consignment is transported to the respected state as per requirement by local carriers

How is cocaine smuggled?

- Most of the carriers swallow balloons, containing 600 to 700 gm of cocaine and are smuggled through the flight

- Huge consignments like 4 to 6kg are concealed in suitcases and its secret compartments.

AIRPORT SECURITY