Indian Police Arrests 4, Including A Nigerian, For Defrauding Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Of Over N1m

Hyderabad’s Cyber Crimes Unit has successfully apprehended four individuals, including a Nigerian national, in connection with a major fraud case involving a pharmaceutical researcher and manufacturer.

The accused have been identified as Vincent Ibhaduwede (37), hailing from Nigeria, Shakil (34), Arvind Mishra (45), and Saifullah Khan (53). Their arrest took place on Friday, June 16, 2023, following which a case was registered under the Indian Penal Code, as confirmed by the police on Saturday.

The primary accused, Christopher, who is currently on the run, played the role of the mastermind and posed as ‘Dr. Arthur Williams’ from Lexo Pharma, a fictitious company based in the United States.

In February 2023, Christopher initiated contact with the complainant, a pharmaceutical researcher and manufacturer residing in Tarnaka, Hyderabad, presenting an enticing business opportunity. The proposal involved the regular supply of 2000 packets of ‘cissus populnea’ stems, which are commonly used in the treatment of venereal, stomach, and skin infections, as per the police investigation.

The complainant, trusting the genuineness of the offer, was instructed by the fraudsters to purchase three packets of Cissus Populnea stems as a sample from a fictitious supplier named Monika Sharma. In order to establish credibility, the complainant transferred an amount of Rs 1.4 lakh to the bank account of a fictitious company, Siya Enterprises, which was linked to Monika.

Subsequently, the complainant handed over the purchased samples to a Delhi-based African national named Danny, who was involved in the fraudulent scheme. Encouraged by the initial transaction, the fraudsters then convinced the complainant to make further payments totaling Rs 87 lakhs into the account of Siya Enterprises between March and May 2023, supposedly for the procurement of the promised 2000 packets of cissus populnea stems.

Shakil and Mishra, two of the arrested individuals, withdrew the funds from the Siya Enterprises account and handed them over to Vincent, who subsequently sent the money to Christopher. Additionally, Saifullah, another member of the group, created a bank account under the name of Siya Enterprises using forged documents.

As the accused suddenly ceased all communication and failed to respond to messages and emails, the owner of the pharmaceutical firm grew suspicious and lodged a complaint with the police on May 16. Prompt action by the Cyber Crimes Unit of Hyderabad led to the subsequent arrest of the four individuals involved in the scam.

Investigations are ongoing to locate and apprehend the main accused, Christopher, who remains at large. The authorities are determined to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for this fraudulent activity face appropriate legal consequences.