Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 17: The accused in the region’s largest drug seizure travelled 59 times between Delhi and Bengaluru in the past year. The Mangaluru city police recently uncovered a drug racket worth Rs 75 crore, seizing 37.87 kg of MDMA. Two foreign nationals, Bamba Fanta (31) and Abigail Adonis (30), were arrested in Bengaluru.
The accused made 59 trips in total—37 from Delhi to Bengaluru and 22 from Bengaluru to Delhi—opting for midnight flights to avoid scrutiny.
Bamba Fanta arrived in India in 2016 and continued staying in New Delhi even after her visa expired, operating a food cart business. Abigail Adonis entered India in 2020 on a medical visa and was engaged in the clothing business. While their occupations appeared legitimate, they were simultaneously involved in drug trafficking, using Bengaluru as a key distribution hub.
Every 15 days, the duo would travel from Delhi to Bengaluru, where they handed over drugs to Nigerian nationals and other peddlers before returning to New Delhi. Since they primarily travelled on domestic flights, they faced minimal security checks, making it easier to evade detection. They also used fake passports and visas upon arrival and departure. This raises the question: how did authorities not grow suspicious despite their extensive travel history, with 59 trips in just one year?
In their latest trip, police confiscated drugs worth Rs 75 crore. This bust prompts speculation about the total quantity of drugs they might have smuggled into Bengaluru during their previous trips.
Mangaluru police demonstrated that a thorough investigation can uncover key figures behind drug trafficking. The case, which took six months of diligent work, began in 2024 with the arrest of Hyder Ali at Pumpwell. This led to the apprehension of Nigerian national Peter Ikedi Belonwo. After six months of intensive investigation, the Mangaluru police successfully cracked one of the largest drug busts in the region, seizing 37.87 kg of MDMA worth Rs 75 crore.
Following this significant breakthrough, praise poured in from across the state. chief minister Siddaramaiah, political leaders, and the public have commended the Mangaluru police, led by commissioner Anupam Agrawal, for their relentless efforts in combating the growing drug menace in the city.