A 27-year-old Nigerian, Obase Prosper, has been arrested in New Delhi, India, with 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at more than ₦1.4 billion, in a case that investigators say is linked to an international romance scam targeting Indian citizens.
Prosper, who entered India on a medical visa, allegedly remained in the country illegally after his visa expired in 2023.
He was arrested on Friday during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
According to the STF, Prosper was a key member of a Nigerian syndicate accused of operating sophisticated online romance scams by creating fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp while posing as citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Superintendent of Police, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, said members of the syndicate allegedly lured Indian men and women into online romantic relationships before deceiving them with claims of sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and other valuables to India.
Victims were then allegedly persuaded to pay large sums of money as customs duties, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other fabricated charges before the promised packages could be released.
The investigation gained momentum after a resident of Daliganj, Lucknow, reported being defrauded by a woman using the identity “Doris William”, who claimed to be from England.
Police said the victim allegedly lost nearly ₹6.8 million after making multiple payments for purported customs clearance and taxes. Investigators also recovered a forged Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) certificate allegedly used to convince the victim that the transactions were legitimate.
The Times of India reports that the complaint led to the registration of a case at the Madiaon Police Station in Lucknow.
The STF said another Nigerian suspect, Uchenwa, had earlier been arrested in the same investigation in Delhi on May 15, 2026, while Prosper remained at large until his latest arrest.
According to investigators, intelligence gathered during efforts to apprehend Prosper revealed his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking, prompting the STF to partner with the Narcotics Control Bureau for a coordinated raid.
During the operation, security operatives recovered 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over ₹10 crore (about ₦1.4 billion), five mobile phones and two passports.
Authorities said investigations are continuing to dismantle the alleged transnational criminal network and identify other members involved in the drug trafficking and cyber fraud operations.
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