Nigerian man, Thai woman arrested for MD drug trafficking; both have prior criminal records

 

 

In a major breakthrough under the ongoing anti-drug campaign led by Bhopal Police, two foreign nationals, a Nigerian man and a woman from Thailand, have been arrested in connection with an MD (Mephedrone) drug trafficking case. The accused, Orachor Onyeka, a Nigerian national, and Benchamat Moon, a Thai citizen, were apprehended by the Crime Branch team following a detailed follow-up operation based on prior arrests and confessions. The arrest of Orachor Onyeka (34), a resident of Anmbara Awaka Isu, Nigeria, was made on August 4.

 

He was found in possession of a mobile phone suspected to have been used in drug-related communications. Based on his interrogation, police reached out to Benchamat Moon (41), who was living in Flat No. S-21, Sheetal Dham, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal, and also working at a spa center. Upon searching her premises, police recovered 2.95 grams of MD powder from her possession on August 5. According to police, the crackdown was carried out under the directives of Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra and Additional Commissioner Pankaj Srivastava, as part of a city-wide drug de-addiction campaign. Crime Branch Incharge Ashok Maravi and his team identified and located the suspects involved in narcotics smuggling. Police have confirmed that both individuals have prior criminal records in India. Orachor Onyeka was previously booked in Delhi under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467, 468 (forgery), and Foreigners Act sections 47 and 3(A). Similarly, Benchamat Moon had been named earlier in a case at Gandhi Nagar Police Station in Bhopal under IPC sections 420, 467, 468, and section 14 of the Foreigners Act. Investigators revealed that the Thai woman was previously operating an online drug supply network while living in Delhi and Bhopal. She also worked in spa centres in Bhopal, using them as a front for narcotics distribution. Meanwhile, the Nigerian accused had links with other drug suppliers and was suspected to be a key distributor. These arrests are part of a larger operation involving several other local arrests made in July.

 

These include individuals such as Saifuddin, Ashu alias Shahrukh, Yaseen alias Mintu, Shavar, and Anshul alias Bhoori, all of whom were found with various quantities of MD ranging from 1 to 8 grams, along with vehicles and even a pistol. The current arrests are connected to earlier cases as well, including the Shariq Machhli case, where accused Sameer Uddin and Sohel Khan were with 6.91 and 7.10 grams of MD powder respectively. Their confession led to the exposure of Saifuddin’s involvement in the supply chain. A reward of Rs 5,000 had been announced on Saifuddin earlier. The police have registered a case under NDPS Act Sections 8/22 against the foreign nationals, and further investigation is underway to uncover the broader drug network operating in and around Bhopal.