A Nigerian national, was deported on Saturday morning, July 28, after his bid to smuggle cocaine to Singapore was foiled by a courier firm in Kondhwa India on June 26.
Idoko Fablan Ojigichi, who was in Kondhwa on a business visa had given the parcel containing drugs to a 17-year-old and asked him to dispatch it to Singapore via a courier firm.
When the boy took the parcel to the courier firm at Jyoti Chowk, the manager got suspicious.
“The parcel contained an old pair of shoes which seemed to cost around Rs1,000, but sending it to Singapore would cost Rs6,000,” a police official said.
The manager alerted the police and on further inspection, a small packet was found concealed inside the shoes. A kit used to test narcotics confirmed that the packet contained cocaine.
During questioning, the minor told the police that the African man gave him the parcel near Corinthians Club in Mohammadwadi. He also helped the police conduct searches.
Idoko was eventually nabbed from Cloud9 on NIBM Annexe Road. During interrogation, he revealed that he was residing at Handewadi in Hadapsar.
However, after he refused to share details of his nationality, the police searched his rented residence on July 28.
“A photocopy of his passport and visa was recovered. Investigations revealed that he was residing in India for the last six years and is an active member of an organized crime syndicate involved in drug peddling. Even though he claimed that he had a business visa, he did not share any details about his business,” the official added.
A restriction order was issued to prevent Idoko from leaving Kondhwa till he was deported.
