The West Zone team of the Commissioner's Task Force on Tuesday arrested two persons, including a Nigerian, on the charges of selling cocaine to some youth, young entrepreneurs and high-salaried professionals.
Addressing a press conference, City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said that the police have also seized about 35 grams of cocaine and five cell phones from their possession.
The accused - Okoro Mathias Chukwudi, a Nigerian - came to India on a six-month business visa. He was staying in Mumbai along with a Ghana national called James, a drug peddler. Unemployed, Okoro started selling drugs to prospective customers.
About a month ago, James left for his native place, and gave Okoro some cocaine to sell. The second accused, Durga Prasad, a native of East Godavari, who was staying in Mumbai, was introduced to Okoro by James. About 10 days ago, Durga Prasad met Okoro, and they both planned to sell cocaine in Hyderabad for higher rates on the eve of Christmas and New Year.
On a tip-off, the Task Force nabbed both the accused. Further investigations are being conducted to unearth their network with other local and foreign drug dealers, the Commissioner said.
The accused persons have been arrested under Cr. No. 453/12 U/S 21(b) Narcotic Drug Psychotropic Substance Act 1985 of Jubilee Hills PS. The sentence for the accused would comprise rigorous imprisonment for upto 10 years and a fine of upto Rs. one lakh. (INN)