A 42-year-old Nigerian national, Omorigo Friday, has been arrested by the operatives of the Goa Police Crime Branch in India for alleged possession and peddling of cocaine valued at about 15.89 lakh in the international market.

Naija News learnt that the arrest followed a raid in Pilerne, North Goa, on Friday, during which operatives seized 31.794 grams of suspected high-grade cocaine.

According to a report by Press Trust of India, the suspect was intercepted by the operatives, who recovered the contraband described as a white crystal powder believed to be cocaine.

The substance, which was estimated to have a street value of 15.89 lakh, was also recovered from Friday during a subsequent search on him.

During interrogation, Friday reportedly provided information that led to the arrest of his alleged accomplice, 42-year-old Sudhir Paleinkar, a resident of Sangolda in North Goa, on February 8.

Both suspects are currently in police custody, as investigations continue into the source of the drugs and possible links to a wider trafficking network.

They are expected to be charged under relevant provisions of India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which prescribes severe penalties for drug-related offences.

In other news, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs, including Ketamine, Ecstasy and Tramadol pills, concealed in sachets of coffee mix and book parcels heading to Zambia and the United Kingdom.

This was made known in a statement by NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The development came as the agency also took into custody 22 Indian crew members of a merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, following the seizure of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine at the GDNL terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos state.