The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has nabbed three African nationals allegedly involved in trafficking of narcotic substance and money laundering in country. The NCB official said that they have also recovered 255 gm cocaine, 350 gm heroin and 100 gm Methamphetamine from their possession.
The accused have been identified as Butter Nnamani (35), presently living at South Delhi's Malviya Nagar, Eze Naduka Bonaventure (36), living at Chattarpur area and Kelvin Mansary alias Ben (30), presently residing in Haryana's Gurugram area. NCB official said that all three are permanent residents of Nigeria.
According to KPS Malhotra, the Zonal director, NCB, after receiving specific that the members of an international syndicate which has been involved in drugs and other money laundering activities, a NCB team conducted raids and nabbed the trio.
"During interrogation, the accused revealed that Ben was a major point of sale of drugs. Ben used to collect the contrabands from Butter and Eze. The document verification of Ben revealed that he was having a fake passport, which when verified was found to be of some Belgian national. He could not produce any valid document of stay in India," said Malhotra.
"On further interrogation, the accused revealed some names associated with them. The most noteworthy were Kumar (name changed to keep the identity secret), Vishal and Robert Polanco. They were planning to get huge amounts of money transferred through money laundering channel. They were having access to some dormant accounts in which huge amounts were parked but those accounts were inactive. As per their plan, they wanted to transfer money from the dormant accounts to various new accounts," said the NCB Zonal Director.
"The accused revealed that for money laundering, Robert Polanco, American national came to India in the month of January. Robert and Kumar stayed in a Hotel at Gurugram. They contacted an official of a prominent bank who promised to arrange the necessary clearance. As per the investigation, they paid Rs 10 lakh in advance to the bank official. The total amount to be laundered was to the tune of Rs 16 crore. In this whole planning, Vishal, who is lodged in Tihar jail was actively connecting with all the members," said the Malhotra.
"Further investigation is underway and the information regarding money laundering is being shared with the Enforcement Directorate for necessary action," Malhotra further said.