Indian law enforcement authorities have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian woman for alleged drug trafficking after uncovering cocaine concealed inside bread loaves during an interstate operation.
The suspect, identified as Olajide Esther Iyanuoluwa, was arrested by operatives of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) following intelligence that she was transporting illicit drugs from Mumbai to Bengaluru.
According to senior police officials, a total of 121 grams of cocaine, estimated to be worth about ₹1.2 crore, was recovered from the suspect’s backpack.
“She concealed the cocaine inside bread loaves packed with other food items. Holes were deliberately drilled into the loaves to hide the narcotics and avoid suspicion,” a senior investigating officer disclosed.
Police investigations revealed that Olajide entered India last year on a student visa, but findings showed she never enrolled in any academic institution.
Instead, she allegedly moved frequently between different parts of Mumbai and its suburbs, including Ghatkopar, Ambawadi and Nallasopara, while engaging in drug-related activities.
Investigators said the cocaine was sourced from a male accomplice in Mumbai, who instructed her to personally deliver the drug to another Nigerian national based in Bengaluru.
“She was asked to carry the drugs herself rather than use courier services, as this was believed to reduce the risk of interception,” the officer said.
The CCB swung into action after receiving a tip-off that a Nigerian woman was travelling by a private bus and planned to meet a drug buyer near Varthur in Bengaluru. She was apprehended shortly after arriving in the city.
Following her arrest, police carried out a follow-up operation at the meeting point and arrested the intended recipient of the drugs. Authorities confirmed that the Nigerian buyer was later deported.
“This case highlights the evolving methods used by traffickers, who now rely on everyday food items and household materials to move drugs across states,” another senior officer said, adding that surveillance on interstate drug trafficking networks has been intensified.
Police said further investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the supply chain and dismantle the wider drug distribution network.
