Nigerian National Arrested in India for Hiding Cocáine Inside Loaves of Bread

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) in India has arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian woman, Olajide Esther Iyanuoluwa, on charges of smuggling cocaine concealed inside seemingly ordinary loaves of bread.

According to police, the suspect’s method involved cutting open bread, hiding approximately 120 grams of cocaine inside, and meticulously resealing the packaging to avoid suspicion. She was intercepted while transporting the drugs from Mumbai to Bengaluru on a private bus, following a specific intelligence tip-off.

The seized cocaine has an estimated international market value of ₹65 lakh (approximately $78,000 USD). Investigations revealed that Olajide entered India in 2024 on a student visa but never enrolled at any educational institution. Instead, she resided in various areas of Mumbai, including Ghatkopar and Nallasopara.

Police allege she procured the drugs from an acquaintance in Mumbai and transported them to Bengaluru on his orders, frequently using private buses and employing the bread-concealment tactic to bypass security checks. Acting on the tip, officers tracked her from a bus terminal to a friend’s residence. An initial search found nothing, but a subsequent inspection of a bread packet she was carrying revealed the hidden narcotics.

A case has been filed under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and a broader investigation is underway to identify the drug source, the intended recipients in Bengaluru, and any potential interstate or international links.

Related Drug Bust
In a separate but related operation, Jalahalli police in Bengaluru arrested two alleged drug peddlers from Kerala: Nikhil Raj, 30, and Melvin Monsi, 23. Authorities confiscated 247 grams of hydro ganja and 19 grams of MDMA from them, with a combined estimated value of ₹26.9 lakh. The duo is accused of trafficking drugs from Kerala to Bengaluru for local distribution.