Police in India have arrested a 27-year-old Nigerian man for his involvement in a romance scam syndicate and drug trafficking after he was found in possession of 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at more than ₹10 crore during a joint operation in New Delhi.
The suspect, identified as Obase Prosper, was arrested during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi Zonal Unit, at RK Puram, New Delhi.
Police identified Prosper as an indigene of Imo State, stating that he entered India on a medical visa in 2023 but remained in the country after the visa expired.
Authorities further stated that Prosper was a key member of an international romance scam syndicate that targeted Indian victims through fake social media accounts.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, members of the syndicate created fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp while posing as citizens of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).
“The gang befriended Indian men and women online, lured them into romantic relationships, and later claimed to be sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and valuables to India,” Singh said.
Investigators stated that victims were later contacted by individuals impersonating Customs or Income Tax officials and falsely informed that the parcels had been seized because they contained excessive cash or valuable items.
The victims were then persuaded to pay customs duties, income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other clearance charges before the fictitious parcels could be released.
The investigation began after a resident of Daliganj, Lucknow, reported losing nearly ₹68 lakh after being befriended on Facebook by a woman using the fake identity Doris William, who claimed to be from England.
Police said the victim was repeatedly asked to make payments for customs duties, GST and other charges and was sent a forged Royal Bank of Scotland certificate to make the scheme appear legitimate.
The STF disclosed that another Nigerian, identified as Uchenwa, had earlier been arrested in connection with the same case on Friday, May 15.
Acting on intelligence that Prosper was also involved in drug trafficking, the STF partnered with the Narcotics Control Bureau to carry out the raid that led to his arrest.
Officials said operatives recovered 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine, five mobile phones and two passports during the operation.
During interrogation, Prosper admitted that he remained in India after his medical visa expired and claimed that fellow Nigerian nationals introduced him to the cyber fraud operation.
Police further stated that he confessed that members of the syndicate used fake foreign identities on social media to establish relationships with Indian victims before extorting money through fabricated customs and tax demands.
Investigators also claimed that Prosper admitted he and Uchenwa jointly orchestrated the ₹68 lakh fraud involving the Lucknow complainant.
The STF said several other suspected members of the syndicate remain at large and are believed to be operating from Delhi, engaging in both cyber fraud and narcotics trafficking.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to trace the syndicate’s financial transactions, examine bank accounts and digital wallets linked to the suspects, and carry out forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices.
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