A 34-year-old Nigerian, Orachor Onyeka, is facing the possibility of the death penalty in India for allegedly supplying synthetic drugs in the city of Bhopal. Onyeka was arrested alongside a Thai woman, and both suspects are accused of distributing drugs online and offline in Bhopal and Delhi. Their arrest followed the earlier apprehension of six individuals believed to be members of a drug distribution network known as Yasin.
According to reports, Onyeka has a sprawling drug distribution network across Bhopal, Delhi, and other Indian cities. Police sources revealed that he imports MDMA from foreign countries and has been operating in India for the past seven years. Onyeka allegedly contacted his clients through WhatsApp, Telegram, and other online platforms, supplying MDMA to drug peddlers Yasin and Shahwar. Authorities believe he might be manufacturing chemical drugs at his hideout.
The police investigation revealed that multiple SIM cards were recovered from Onyeka and the Thai woman, registered under Indian names. Additional DCP Shailendra Singh Chouhan stated that if the accused fraudulently used documents to obtain the SIM cards, a separate FIR will be registered against them. Onyeka is already facing charges under the Foreigners Act and fraud sections at DLF Phase-1 Police Station in Delhi.
A review of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, revealed that drug offenders in India risk penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment, and in some cases, the death sentence. The Act views drug offenses seriously, with penalties varying based on the quantity of drugs involved. Repeat offenses attract one-and-a-half times the penalty, and in some cases, the death penalty.
This case is not isolated, as another Nigerian, Kingsley Samuel, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for drug trafficking in Bengaluru in April. Samuel was found guilty of possessing illicit drugs without authorization and overstaying his visa period in the country. These incidents highlight the severe consequences of engaging in drug-related activities in India.
