The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested a Nigerian national alleged to be one of the top drug suppliers in Mumbai. Investigating officials said that the accused had a reputation for being able to deliver any quantity of Mephedrone at any time of the day.
According to ANC officials, the accused has been identified as Taiwo Ayodole Samson (34), a Nigerian national who came to India on a business visa three years ago. Officials said that Samson was arrested after he was intercepted during a routine patrol in Goregaon at around 4.40 p.m. on Wednesday.
“The accused was spotted near the Aarey Gymnasium and Activity Center and searched, and he was found to be in possession of 400 grams of mephedrone worth Rs 60 lakh. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (ANC) Datta Nalawade said.
Further interrogation of the accused allegedly revealed that he is among the top suppliers of Mephedrone in the city. According to the ANC's investigations so far, Samson came to India three years ago under the pretext of dealing in wigs. However, there is no evidence of him having actually worked in this industry for a single day, and all evidence points to him being in the illicit drug trade.
“The accused had a dedicated mobile number on which his clients would contact him and place orders for drugs. He would then convey this order to his own supplier, a bigger player who is currently wanted, and the required quantity would be delivered to him. The accused would then get back in touch with his client and specify the time and place where the client could collect his drugs,” Nalawade said.
He added that Samson's clientele consisted almost exclusively of street peddlers, for whom he was the supplier of choice. Over the last three years, the entire drug peddling network had come to know that no matter what quantity you needed at what time of the day, Samson was your man. In the murky world of the illicit drug trade, which thrives on word of mouth publicity, this 'street rep' or 'street cred' worked wonders for Samson's business, officials said.
Apart from street peddlers, Samson has also supplied Mephedrone to well to do clients as well as college students in the Goregaon – Andheri – Powai belt.
The ANC is now on the trail of Samson's supplier, an Indian national.
“We expect to make some more arrests in the case in the days to come,” Nalawade said.
