By John Ogunsemore
Police in Pune city, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, have arrested a 35-year-old Nigerian, Valentine alias James E, with possession of the banned drug Mephedrone worth Rs 12.9 lakhs (about N21.6 million).
Indian Express reported that Valentine, a resident of Yewalewadi in Kondhwa area of the city, was arrested on Friday, September 26.
According to the report, police arrested the suspect near a medical store in Yewalewadi following a tip-off.
A search conducted on the suspect allegedly led to the recovery of 62.22 grams of Mephedrone worth Rs 12.94 lakhs (about N21.6 million) from his two-wheeler.
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A police statement quoted in the report said police suspected Valentine planned to sell the contraband to some customers.
Police seized the drugs, a mobile phone and the two-wheeler from the suspect.
A first information report (FIR) was lodged against him at the Kondhwa police station under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police inspector Prashant Annachhatre of the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Pune City Police disclosed that Valentine had a criminal record.
“He was earlier arrested in Pune with possession of cocaine in 2020. An FIR was then lodged against him at the Kondhwa police station,” the police officer said.
Police stated that the suspect had been residing in India for five years, with connections to larger criminal enterprises under investigation.
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