Mangaluru Police Arrest Two South Africans in Major MDMA…

Mangaluru police have arrested two South African women and confiscated ₹75 crore worth of MDMA, the highest drug seizure in Karnataka to date. The women, monitored by Central Crime Branch for six months, reportedly trafficked drugs from Delhi to Bengaluru, with plans involving Narcotic Control Bureau for further investigation.

The Mangaluru police successfully apprehended two South African women and seized 37.878 kg of MDMA, valued at ₹75 crore, which reportedly originated from Delhi and was transported via a domestic flight to Bengaluru. This seizure marks the highest drug value confiscated by the Karnataka police to date, as stated by Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal.

The arrested individuals, identified as Bamba Fanta (31) and Abigail Adonis (30), hailing from South Africa, were linked to ongoing investigations by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) following the arrest of a local drug peddler in 2024. This initial arrest led to more significant findings, including the capture of Peter Ikedi Belonwu, a Nigerian drug dealer in Bengaluru, who revealed the South Africans’ involvement in smuggling MDMA every fortnight.

The CCB monitored the suspects for six months prior to their arrest, receiving tips about their arrival on March 14. Upon landing in Bengaluru around 12:30 a.m., the suspects booked a taxi for distribution of the narcotics. After a six-hour observation, authorities executed a raid in Neeladri Nagar, resulting in the arrest and confiscation of additional items, including mobile phones, passports, and cash.

Further investigation revealed that the women had made 37 trips to Bengaluru and 22 to Mumbai within the past year, raising concerns about security lapses at major airports. Commissioner Agrawal indicated that the arrested individuals allegedly obtained MDMA from abroad or regions near Delhi.

Fanta and Adonis have reportedly been involved in drug trafficking for 18 months, utilizing fraudulent passports and visas to facilitate their operations, with plans to involve the Narcotic Control Bureau due to the scale of their dealings. The police commended the CCB for their diligent efforts in uncovering this significant drug trafficking operation. An upcoming award for the team’s contributions is anticipated from Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

In summary, the recent arrest of two South African women by the Mangaluru police underscores a significant drug trafficking operation involving the smuggling of MDMA into India. The successful seizure of a substantial quantity of narcotics highlights ongoing investigative efforts and collaboration among law enforcement agencies, leading to further inquiries to dismantle closely-knit drug networks and address international drug smuggling activities.

Original Source: www.thehindu.com