Surat: Continuing its non-stop action against the menace of drugs, the Surat Police nabbed a Nigerian national in a case involving ₹55.48 lakh worth of MD drugs. The Nigerian drug dealer was apprehended from Nalasopara in Mumbai.

The city crime branch had in this case earlier recovered the MD drug consignment from Sachin check post and arrested three individuals: Irfan Pathan, Muhammad Tausif alias Coco Muhammad Rafik Shah, and Ashfaq Irshad Kureshi, along with 554.82 grams of MD drugs.

These accused informed the police that they purchased drugs from Saiyedpura-based peddler Muhammad Shahnawaz alias Abdul Kaliya Muhammad Adam Sheikh (a Variyali Bazar resident). The latest stock was reportedly brought from Nalasopara (Mumbai)-based Ajay Thakur, they told police.

The Crime Branch team reached Mumbai and nabbed Ajay Gulla Thakur (of Porchar Gali, Kandivali), who revealed that he had sourced the stock from David Prince Uche (46), a Nigerian citizen residing in Nalasopara. The Surat Police also apprehended David after raiding a location in Nalasopara.

A Nigerian national, David has a criminal history. He has been living in India for several years. Kandivali police had previously arrested him for the crime of cheating. He stayed in jail from 2015 to 2019 and later started a network for MD drugs. The Nigerian national avoided using mobile phones and met syndicate members face-to-face. Police first apprehended Ajay and then used him as a decoy customer to catch David. Ajay Thakur, too, has a criminal past and was previously arrested by Virar police for attempted murder and violations of the Arms Act.

The Gujarat Police, under the guidance of the Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, has adopted a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach in dealing with menacing drug-related crimes. The police not only arrest individuals found with drugs but also delve into the details to track the entire chain of sourcing and origin of the drugs. In dozens of cases, entire drug cartels have been busted. DeshGujarat