Panvel Drug Bust: NCB, RPF Arrest Nigerian Woman With Cocaine & Meth Worth ₹36 Crore On Mangla Express; VIDEO

Mumbai: A joint operation carried out by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Bangalore, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Panvel, and the Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) of RPF Kurla resulted in the arrest of a foreign national with a significant quantity of narcotics onboard Train No. 12618 Mangla Express on Friday, valued at approximately Rs 36 crore.

"Acting on credible intelligence received by NCB Bangalore about possible drug smuggling on the Mangla Express, the information was quickly relayed to Rishi Shukla, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (Coordination), Central Railway, Mumbai Division. Under his supervision, a high-alert team was mobilized, comprising NCB officers Murari Lal and Madhusudhan Vishwakarma, along with RPF officials Anjani Babar (Panvel), Satish Kumar Yadav and Naveen Singh (CIB Kurla), Prahlad Singh, Prahlad Patil, Jyoti Kushwah, and Dhirendra Yadav" said an official of CR.

The team intercepted the train upon its arrival at Platform No. 7 of Panvel Railway Station and began a targeted search. In Coach A-2, Seat No. 27, they identified a Nigerian woman accompanied by an infant and carrying a multicoloured travel bag. She identified herself as Etumudon Doris, holder of Nigerian Passport No. A06895991, and claimed the child, named “Miracle,” was her own.

"A preliminary interrogation conducted in the presence of independent witnesses led to a confession from the woman, admitting to carrying narcotic substances. She was brought to the RPF Post in Panvel, where a detailed search of her belongings was carried out.Inside her bag, officers discovered two rectangular packages labeled “VINTAGE,” wrapped in rubber. Upon field testing, both were confirmed to contain cocaine, with a total weight of 2.002 kilograms" further added official.

A further search revealed a Mickey Mouse-themed children's bag concealed within the main luggage. It contained two additional paper packets: one labeled “Kellogg’s Corn Flakes” contained 994 grams of methamphetamine, and another labeled “Bongchi Perfect Roll” contained 494 grams of methamphetamine.

According to CR RPF, total, 1.488 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized, confirmed using a narcotics test kit. Investigators also seized additional evidence including a photocopy of a train ticket (PNR No. 2138636986) from Faridabad to Panvel under the name N.E. Abena, and a photocopy of an Indian visa (No. VJ8839492) in the name of Etumudon Doris.

"The total haul of cocaine and methamphetamine—3.49 kg—has an estimated international market value of Rs 36 crore" said a senior official of CR adding that seized narcotics were formally taken into custody by NCB officer Murari Lal. Further investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing under the jurisdiction of the NCB.

Commenting on the operation, Rishi Shukla, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Central Railways, Mumbai Division, said, “This successful seizure demonstrates the exceptional coordination between our law enforcement agencies and our joint resolve to dismantle international drug networks operating via India’s railways.”