Indian police arrest Nigerian woman over cocaine hidden in bread loaves
Indian police have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian woman for allegedly smuggling cocaine concealed inside loaves of bread and supplying the illicit drug to customers in Bengaluru.
The suspect, identified as Olajide Esther, was apprehended on Tuesday by operatives of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) while travelling in a private bus from Mumbai to Bengaluru. Following her arrest, officers recovered 121 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of Rs 65 million.
According to investigators, Esther allegedly sliced open bread loaves and hid the cocaine inside them in an effort to evade detection during transportation. Acting on credible intelligence, the CCB placed the suspect under surveillance before intercepting her upon arrival in Bengaluru.
A search of her backpack reportedly revealed the drugs concealed within a loaf of bread packed alongside other food items, a method police said was designed to avoid suspicion.
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Authorities alleged that the suspect was actively involved in drug trafficking, regularly procuring cocaine in Mumbai and transporting it to Bengaluru via private buses for distribution. Investigations further revealed that she allegedly received the drugs from a male associate in Mumbai and was instructed to personally deliver them to another Nigerian national in Bengaluru to reduce the risk of interception.
Based on information obtained during interrogation, police said a follow-up operation was conducted near Varthur, leading to the arrest of the intended recipient. The suspect was later deported, authorities confirmed.
Describing the case as indicative of evolving drug trafficking methods, a senior CCB officer said traffickers increasingly conceal illegal substances in everyday household items and food products.
A case has been filed under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, while investigations continue to dismantle the wider drug supply network. Police also disclosed that Esther entered India on a student visa but failed to enrol in any institution, instead frequently moving across parts of Mumbai and its suburbs.
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