Mumbai: Nigerian drug peddler injures cops before arrest

Accused Stephen Samuel, alias Tony Yeh

A Nigerian national, believed to be a conduit for an international drug syndicate, was arrested from Kharghar on Friday. The Narcotics Control Bureau found cocaine worth Rs 50 lakh on the accused, who injured two officers before being overpowered.

An NCB officer said they had been tracking the movement of accused Stephen Samuel, alias Tony Yeh, for the past few months. Acting on a tip, they intercepted him at Sector-30 and seized 102 grams of the contraband from him.

The officer said Samuel turned out to be a tough nut. He attacked the raid team, injuring two of its members. The wounded officers are being treated at the Government Hospital in Navi Mumbai. Drug charges apart, Samuel will also be booked for obstructing government officials during their duty.

"Samuel is a notorious criminal. He is part of an international drug trafficking organisation and sends cocaine across India. He recently came to Mumbai from Delhi to supply cocaine. He appears to be a crucial link in the distribution network of cocaine from Colombia to Mumbai via Ethiopia," said the officer.

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede said they have arrested 22 foreign nationals for drug smuggling so far this year. He said, "Stephen Samuel will be produced in court on Saturday. A case of assault is being filed against him."