A Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako (Maxwell), has been arrested in India for alleged drug trafficking, with authorities seizing ‘celebrity cocaine’ and ecstasy pills. He is accused of earning over $145,000 in commissions over a decade

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]yderabad, India Operatives of the Indian Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau have arrested a Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, popularly known as Maxwell, for alleged drug trafficking.

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The 34-year-old suspect was apprehended on Sunday in the Sainikpuri area of Hyderabad.

Bediako reportedly confessed to earning over Rs 1.17 crore (approximately $145,636) in commissions after trafficking drugs worth several crores over more than a decade in India.

According to a report by The Hindu, an Indian news outlet, officers of the Bureau seized 150 grams of high-purity cocaine, branded in underground drug markets as “celebrity cocaine,” alongside 1,100 ecstasy pills.

Sandeep Shandilya, Director of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, stated that Maxwell is believed to be a key player in a larger West African drug cartel operating across India.

“He entered the country using fake identities and forged passports and had been operating primarily from Goa before moving to Hyderabad in a bid to expand the cartel’s network,” Shandilya stated. He added that Maxwell had entered India on three different occasions, beginning in 2013.

“He initially came on a medical visa under false pretences and never visited the hospital or city mentioned in his documents. Instead, he joined his cousin and alleged cartel boss, Romey, in Goa,” Shandilya disclosed.

Romey, who is reportedly operating from Nigeria, is said to control the cartel’s activities remotely, using Maxwell and other “foot soldiers” to manage local deliveries and supply chains.

“During his time in India, Maxwell operated using burner phones, moved frequently to avoid detection, and laundered his earnings through a wide network of Nigerian bank accounts and Indian hawala routes,” Shandilya further revealed. “After exhausting the Goa market, the cartel directed Maxwell to scout Hyderabad, citing rising demand.”

The report further detailed that Maxwell arrived in Hyderabad in early 2025 and began establishing a local distribution network.

He was eventually arrested at a friend’s residence in Sainikpuri, where the police recovered the narcotics, two mobile phones containing transaction data, and photographs of previous consignments.

The police indicated that Maxwell sold cocaine at Rs25,000 per gram and ecstasy pills at Rs6,000 apiece. Data extracted from his devices, according to the report, revealed over 150 bank transactions involving Nigerian financial institutions such as GT Bank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint MFB. These transactions reportedly link to Romey, his wife, Ugwu Promise Nnenna, and his brother-in-law.

The police also stated that Maxwell had previously operated out of a luxury villa in Goa but was forced to relocate due to mounting police pressure.

“This isn’t just a case of drug peddling. It’s an organised transnational racket involving multiple countries, fake documents, money laundering, and systematic targeting of Indian youth,” Shandilya underscored, highlighting the serious nature of the operation.

The report further stated that a Red Corner Notice may soon be issued for Romey and other absconding Nigerian nationals connected to the network.

Meanwhile, India has issued advisories to property owners in areas such as Paramount Colony, Brundavan Colony, Sainikpuri, Tolichowki, and Banjara Hills, urging them to report any foreign nationals staying in rented apartments.

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This latest arrest comes just days after four other Nigerians, including two women, were arrested in separate incidents across India for similar drug-related offences, indicating a broader crackdown on drug networks.