Emmanuel Bediako, a Nigerian national, was arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly leading a major drug trafficking network.
Authorities recovered cocaine and ecstasy, uncovering links to a West African cartel. His operations spanned over a decade using forged identities and secret banking channels.
Indian authorities have arrested a Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, also known by the alias Maxwell, in connection with what officials describe as a sophisticated international drug trafficking ring. The 34-year-old was apprehended on Sunday by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau in Sainikpuri, a suburb of Hyderabad.
According to Indian law enforcement, Bediako is believed to have operated within the country for over a decade, distributing illegal substances and reportedly earning more than ₹1.17 crore equivalent to approximately $145,000 in commissions. His arrest followed a targeted operation that led to the recovery of 150 grams of highly pure cocaine and 1,100 ecstasy tablets, both categorized as high-value narcotics in India’s black market.
Investigators disclosed that the cocaine, locally referred to as “celebrity cocaine,” was being sold at a staggering ₹25,000 per gram, while each ecstasy pill was priced at ₹6,000. These substances were found during a search of the home where Bediako was staying, along with several mobile phones and digital evidence that authorities say tie him to multiple previous drug shipments.
Sandeep Shandilya, chief of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, described Bediako as a major operative within a transnational drug cartel believed to be orchestrated from Nigeria. The syndicate allegedly has its roots in West Africa but operates extensively across various Indian cities.
Bediako reportedly entered India using forged passports and assumed false identities on at least three occasions dating back to 2013. Although he presented himself as a medical tourist, officials found no record of him visiting any of the hospitals listed in his visa applications.
Instead, investigators believe he was actively working alongside his cousin, known as Romey, who is suspected to be the cartel’s ringleader. Romey is thought to be running the operation remotely from Nigeria. Law enforcement sources allege that Romey’s wife, Ugwu Promise Nnenna, and his brother-in-law are also involved in managing the syndicate’s operations and finances.
To stay off the radar, Bediako is said to have regularly changed addresses and relied on burner phones. He also allegedly used informal financial systems and Nigerian banking platforms such as GTBank, Zenith Bank, and Moniepoint to transfer illicit proceeds. An analysis of his phone data reportedly uncovered over 150 financial transactions linked to these banks.
Initially operating out of Goa, a region known for its recreational drug culture, Bediako shifted to Hyderabad in early 2025 amid increased police surveillance in Goa. From there, he is believed to have expanded the cartel’s reach across southern India. His arrest was carried out at a friend’s residence, where authorities uncovered more incriminating materials, including photographs and digital communications detailing drug deliveries and contacts.
“This is not just another drug arrest. It’s the unraveling of an organized, cross-border criminal network deeply entrenched in narcotics smuggling, document forgery, and money laundering,” Shandilya stated. He added that the cartel appears to have deliberately targeted vulnerable Indian youths to serve as drug distributors or clients.
In light of the arrest, the Indian government is reportedly preparing to issue a Red Corner Notice through Interpol for Romey and other individuals still at large. Additionally, police have urged landlords in key Hyderabad neighborhoods such as Sainikpuri, Tolichowki, Brundavan Colony, Paramount Colony, and Banjara Hills to report any foreign tenants to authorities as a precautionary measure.
Bediako’s arrest comes on the heels of other recent crackdowns on international drug networks in India. In separate incidents, four other Nigerian nationals, including two women, were detained for unrelated drug trafficking activities, reinforcing concerns about an expanding West African drug influence in the region.
Investigations into Bediako’s wider network are ongoing, with law enforcement determined to dismantle what they now consider one of the most structured and elusive drug operations operating within India’s borders.
