PANAJI
In yet another major crackdown on narcotics trade by Goa’s counterparts, a special wing of Hyderabad (Telangana) police arrested a Nigerian, who connived with his compatriot in Colvale Jail to smuggle drugs in the southern state and overseas.
The TS Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TS-Nab) and the Panjagutta police swooped down on Iwuala Udoka Stanley, 43, who had allegedly smuggled drugs worth Rs 8 crore from Goa, this Tuesday.The Nigerian has been living in Candolim from where he allegedly operated the illicit trade on the pretext of a clothing business. Interestingly, this police team camped in Goa last month to keep a close vigil on his movements.
Not only did he clandestinely run the business, but the Telangana police said that an undertrial by name Okra, lodged in Colvale jail had been in constant touch with him through a smartphone.
“Stanley trafficked drugs into India through Okra, who came to India in the name of business. While he is in jail, Okra still operates the trade in alleged connivance with the prison authorities and is using a smartphone, which is banned in the jail,” sources said. Okra was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Goa three years ago.
The link has been traced to international smugglers in the Netherlands with drugs hidden in cartons of clothes allegedly transported via cargo planes and couriers by sea, sources added.
As per Telangana news reports, police have found that Stanley earned more than Rs 2 crores annually, lived like a rich man with a luxurious house in an expensive area, and CCTV cameras installed for constant surveillance.
It is learnt that after this revelation, Goa prison officials conducted a search in the jail and seized phones from some inmates. In August-September 2022, the Telangana police had arrested a number of alleged drug peddlers, hailing from Goa from their respective premises.
