A Nigerian national, Chukwu Ogbonna David, who is the kingpin of one of the major international drug rackets in India has been apprehended by the North Zone Task Force of Hyderabad City Police.

Ogbonna, alias Tony Abia Marsha aka Tony, who is one of the most sought drug peddlers in India, was captured on Thursday, January 20, in Mumbai and transported to Telangana after eluding capture for years.

He is claimed to have been conducting a drug ring with the help of agents in major cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai.

The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force squad broke a narcotics ring reportedly run by Tony and recovered 10 grams of cocaine and 11 cellphones based on information provided by the accused.

Police also arrested nine of the 13 high profile businessmen in Hyderabad who were “consumers” of the drug supplied by Tony.

Announcing the arrest of the gang, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand, said Tony who was presently staying in Andheri East in Mumbai, has been supplying drugs to people of affluent sections in the city.

“In the year 2013, he migrated to Mumbai from Nigeria on temporary VISA. Since then, he is illegally staying in Mumbai. Initially, he was engaged in the export business of garments and wigs to African countries. After coming in contact with drug peddlers, tony decided to come into this business,” Anand said.

“Tony purchased drugs from an international drug peddler called ‘Star Boy’ (African national). With the help of his agents, he transported drugs from Mumbai to Hyderabad. Money used to get transferred via online mode to his agents’ accounts,” he said.

The seven others who were arrested were businessmen and realtors, identified as Niranjan Kumar Jain, Shashwat Jain, Yagyanand Agarwal, Dhandul Surya Sumanth Reddy, Bandi Bhargav, Venkat Chalsani and Thamminedi Sagar.

“Niranjan and Sagar took the SIM cards of their office boys Srikanth and Subba Rao to speak to Tony. Hence the office boys were also booked,” Anand said, adding that the police were also probing if the seven persons were supplying drugs to others.

The police also found Tony established a network of agents in different places including Mumbai, Goa and Hyderabad and after accepting online payments, supplied the drug.

“Tony carried out his activity mostly in South Indian States. We are also probing if the consumers were hosting parties and using the drug,” the CP said.

The main supplier Star Boy, according to the police, used only WhatsApp or VOIP network to contact his agents.

“He himself never exposed himself to his agents or customers. He communicated with everyone using International phone numbers with WhatsApp calls and VOIP calls. He has around 15 to 20 customers in Hyderabad,” Anand said.

“He does not meet anyone nor does he interact through direct phone calls. We suspect he is operating from some African country and through his network supplies the drug in containers shipped to India,” Anand said, adding that the City Police would be writing to the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs seeking help in contacting the Nigerian government to nab Star Boy.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.