Nigerian drug smuggler, accomplice held

CHANDIGARH - A Nigerian drug smuggler and his Indian accomplice were arrested and contraband was recovered Saturday by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here, officials said.

According to NCB officials, the accused were identified as William Janki, a Nigerian, who was staying at New Delhi, and Keshav Ram, a resident of Manali town in Himachal Pradesh.

“Following a tip-off, we laid a trap and arrested the two smugglers from a roundabout adjoining hotel Taj here in Sector 17 (commercial hub of Chandigarh),” Superintendent of NCB (Chandigarh zone) H.S. Gill told IANS.

“William had come from New Delhi whereas Keshav had come from Manali. Chandigarh was their meeting point,” he said.

“We have recovered 525 gram of very high quality charas and 26 gram MDMA, which is also known as ecstasy and crystal. Recovery of MDMA is very rare in this part of the country. Their interrogation is on and we would ascertain their other links in this region,” he said.

NCB officials said that the accused were to supply the contraband in the night-clubs in Himachal Pradesh.

Director of NCB (Chandigarh zone) A.K. Yadav told IANS: “MDMA is often used during rave parties that are very common in different parts of Himachal Pradesh. It is very much in demand among foreigners and is sold at high rates. It is smuggled to the US in huge quantity. Its market price here is around Rs.6,000 per gram.”