By Prosper Mene
A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, is facing severe legal consequences in India after being arrested for alleged drug trafficking involving 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, commonly known as ecstasy, valued at over N1.8 billion (approximately ₹10 crore or $1.2 million). The arrest, carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru’s Tarahunase village on June 10, 2025, has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the seizure and the potential penalties under Indian law.
Akinwunmi, who identified herself as a hairstylist and nail artist, was intercepted following a tip-off as she arrived from Delhi with a suspicious bag. Authorities discovered the MDMA crystals concealed among 11 new churidars, traditional Indian outfits, intended for delivery to a group of African drug peddlers, according to police reports. A senior officer described her as a courier, stating, “She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers.” Four unidentified men on scooters were observed in the area but fled without collecting the package.
During initial questioning, Akinwunmi, also known by the alias “Princess,” claimed she was unaware of the bag’s contents, stating a friend in Delhi had asked her to deliver it to a man wearing a black hat. She told police she had come to India in October 2021 on a business visa with plans to open a beauty salon but later switched to a student visa for a university in Telangana, which she never attended. Her visa expired in 2022, and she has been living in India illegally since. Authorities are also pursuing her boyfriend in Delhi, who is currently absconding and believed to be connected to the case.
Under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, possession of a commercial quantity of MDMA, such as the amount seized, carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with fines ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh. Additionally, under the Foreigners Act of 1946, Akinwunmi faces potential prosecution and deportation for overstaying her visa. This is her first recorded case in Bengaluru, but police are investigating whether she has a criminal history elsewhere in India.
The arrest is coming just days after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako (alias Maxwell), was apprehended by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau for similar charges, showcasing a concerning trend of drug-related arrests involving Nigerian nationals in India.
Akinwunmi has been handed over to the Chikkajala Police Station for further investigation as authorities work to uncover potential links to a broader drug trafficking network.
