Nigerian national arrested in connection with seizure of Ecstasy pills in India

By Samantha Allen

Published: February 28, 2022 | 10:44 PM GMT

The Ernakulam Rural police have arrested a 38-year-old Nigerian national in connection with the seizure of 168 kilos of ecstasy drug from four Bengaluru youngsters.

The suspect, Remijus Eze Chinedu, was apprehended on Sunday, February 27 from a flat in Bengaluru, according to police. In various Indian towns, Chinedu is considered to be a significant link in gangs smuggling drugs like MDMA.

In November of last year, Nedumabassery police nabbed four youngsters from Kariyaad who were smuggling 164 grams of MDMA from Bengaluru.

The contraband, estimated to be worth millions on the underground market, was discovered tucked beneath the steering wheel of their car.

Police said extensive investigation was held to identify the source of the contraband which led them to the Nigerian national.

A team led by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K. Karthik found that Remijus had reached India in 2016 on a medical visa.

He continued to stay in Bengaluru illegally even as his application for visa renewal was rejected. To prevent detection by the police, he used to frequently change locations where drugs would be handed over. He managed to give the police the slip twice in Bengaluru.

He had served a jail term in 2017 in a drug case, the police said. Nedumbassery Inspector P.M. Baiju, Assistant Sub Inspector Aneesh K. Das, and senior civil police officers Rony Augustine, Ajith Kumar, and Midhun were part of the team that made the arrest.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.