Nigerian woman arrested India cocaine in bread
A Nigerian woman has been arrested by police in India after authorities found 121 grams of cocaine hidden inside loaves of bread she was carrying during travel between cities, in what police are calling an unusual drug trafficking method. The arrest took place in Bengaluru, Karnataka, after officers acted on specific intelligence about narcotics movement in the region.
According to the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police, the 29-year-old suspect, identified as Olajide Esther Iyanuoluwa, arrived in India in 2024 on a student visa but never enrolled in any academic institution. Investigators say she sourced the cocaine from an associate in Mumbai and transported it to Bengaluru by hiding the drug inside bread loaves packed with other food items in her backpack. Officers discovered that holes had been cut into the bread slices to conceal the narcotics before sealing them back, a tactic believed to be aimed at evading detection by law enforcement.
Police initially raided a house linked to drug distribution near Varthur in Bengaluru based on a tip-off about scheduled narcotics delivery. Although an initial search did not immediately reveal the drugs, a more thorough inspection uncovered the hidden cocaine inside the bread. The value of the seized narcotics is estimated at approximately 1.20 crore rupees.
Following her arrest, authorities also detained the intended recipient of the drugs, who was later deported after being taken into custody. The CCB has registered a case under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and continues to investigate the network behind the trafficking operation. Police have said the case highlights how smugglers are adopting creative methods to conceal and transport illegal substances, prompting intensified monitoring of interstate drug movements.
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