BREAKING: Indian Police Dismantle Nationwide Drug & Hawala Ring, Arrest 50 Nigerians in Major Crackdown
Story: Written by Myra November 28,2025
Indian security agencies have uncovered a massive drug-trafficking and illegal money-transfer operation spread across multiple states, resulting in the arrest of 50 Nigerian nationals in what officials describe as one of the largest coordinated enforcement actions in years.
The syndicate operated through a hawala network—an underground, unregulated system of transferring money without formal banking records. This channel is widely used for discreet local and international transactions, often linked to criminal activity.
Investigators said the scale and cooperation among agencies involved in the operation were “unmatched.”
As part of the crackdown, Telangana’s EAGLE task force deployed 120 operatives to New Delhi, travelling in two exclusive train coaches. These personnel spent weeks gathering intelligence, conducting surveillance, and carrying out targeted raids.
The criminal network maintained a strong footprint in major hubs such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, and parts of Kerala. Authorities say the cartel specialised in distributing high-value synthetic drugs including Methamphetamine and Cocaine.
A breakthrough in the investigation revealed the group’s sweeping customer base. Nearly 2,000 suspected buyers were traced through courier deliveries and highly coordinated “dead-drop” exchanges—methods designed to avoid physical contact and reduce the risk of exposure.
The traffickers relied on encrypted messaging platforms and delivery-style logistics similar to food-ordering apps.
Officials also discovered that the sex trade was used as a cover to expand their drug distribution network.
A parallel financial probe revealed a sophisticated hawala system used to funnel drug proceeds out of India. Local hawala handlers converted cash earnings into commodities like garments and human hair, which were exported to Lagos, Nigeria, effectively laundering millions of rupees.
Police said the suspected kingpin alone moved an estimated ₹15 crore (approximately ₦2.4 billion) through this illegal channel.
Authorities say the arrest of 50 Nigerians marks a major milestone in the ongoing fight against international drug cartels operating within India.
Officials stressed that dismantling hawala pipelines and tghtening verification processes for foreign nationals remain crucial to curbing the country’s drug crisis.
They further called for stricter visa and passport controls, noting that some previously deported suspects managed to return and resume criminal operations due to system loopholes.
