PANAJI
This Nigerian national flew to India with the purported false intention of pursuing higher education at the University of Lucknow. She never made it to Uttar Pradesh and instead diverted her route from Delhi to Bengaluru, where she allegedly engaged in drug trafficking. Faith Chiemerie, the 24-year-old “student” was eventually arrested in Goa while attempting to distribute the contraband she had transported from Bengaluru via bus.
Chiemerie, charged with allegedly possessing amphetamine and ganja, valued at Rs 15.10 lakh, is identified as a key supplier of a drug distribution network by the ANC.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police (ANC) Akshat Kaushal informed that the woman was caught red handed in possession of 150 gms of amphetamine, worth Rs 15 lakh and 100 gms of ganja, worth Rs 10,000 during the raid near Green Park Hotel in Mapusa late Tuesday night.
“Chiemerie was an important link in supplying drugs to Goa and by catching her we were able to disrupt the supply chain through which the drugs were coming into Goa,” the officer said.
The SP further revealed how she deceived the authorities by misusing the student visa to stay back in India and instead carry out the illicit trade.
“She arrived in India claiming to pursue higher studies at the University of Lucknow. She was accordingly granted a student visa. However, she did not take admissions at the university nor did she travel to Lucknow. Instead, Chiemerie stayed in Delhi for some time from where she went to Bengaluru and then arrived in Goa with the consignment,” Kaushal said.
After a tip-off, Kaushal said she was caught at the bus stop and the consignment was seized for further probe. The ANC, the officer said, is coordinating with its counterparts in Karnataka to track the buyers and suppliers.
While a First Information Report is registered, the ANC sleuths are interrogating the accused for further lead in the case. “Our insistence is on the suppliers… We are expanding our probe to Bengaluru from where she boarded the bus to enter Goa with the contraband,” he said.
SP Kaushal also emphasized the comprehensive approach adopted by ANC in combating drug-related activities while also actively ensuring awareness in educational institutions to educate and protect vulnerable segments of society, particularly the youth, from the risks of substance abuse.
