A 36-year-old Nigerian national and his accomplice have been arrested with 23 gram cocaine worth Rs 4.6 lakh in Pune, India.
The suspects, Chukwujekwu Reuben who currently resides in Nalasopara, Thane district and his accomplice Mohammad Musavi,38, a resident of Padamji Park, New Nana Peth, were arrested by officials from Lashkar police station, Pune city police.
Musavi, a social media fitness influencer has a base of several thousand followers on social media platforms and also has videos with some known Bollywood actors.
Police have seized cocaine, two four-wheelers and two mobile phones, totally worth Rs 15.29 lakh from the accused.
A team comprising Senior Police Inspector Ashok Kadam and PSI Akshay Sonawane were on night patrol duty when they intercepted the accused around 3.15 am on Monday, along Synagogue Street Road in Camp.
“We found them lurking suspiciously together and questioned them. The cocaine was found in their possession. Initially we got one day police custody. But it was increased by five days on Sunday. We will know more from their whereabouts in Mumbai and Pune,” said senior police inspector Ashok Kadam of Lashkar police station of Pune.
“They both had drugs on them. Musavi is a well known fitness trainer and a body builder. We needed more time to search their places as the Nigerian national was found to have been selling the narcotic,” said Police sub-inspector Nilesh Mahadik of Lashkar police station who is part of the investigating team
“Reuben came to Pune to sell drugs. He had come to India on a business visa.” Inspector Kadam told journalist.
“We have registered a case for offences under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.” he added.
A court has remanded the accused to five days in police custody for further investigation.
The investigation is being carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region) Rajendra Dahale, DCP (Zone 1) Priyanka Naranware, DCP (Zone 2) Sagar Patil and ACP (Lashkar division) Yashwant Gawari.
The team includes PSI Nilesh Kumar Mahadik, ASI Shirke, Head Constables Mansub Sheikh, Hindurao Shinde, Kailas Chavan, Police Naik Tejas Jagdale, Vijaya Vedpathak, Manisha Talekar, Constables Salman Sheikh, Sagar Huwale, Nanasaheb Ghadge, Abasaheb Dhavade, Narale, Pawan Bhosale, Chakradhar Shirgire and Sambhaji Darade.
