South African national among two arrested; 25 gram cocaine seized in Vizag

The city police, in coordination with EAGLE, the anti-narcotic wing of the Andhra Pradesh government, arrested two persons, including a South African National, and seized 25 grams of cocaine from them on Saturday. The police said that it was the largest cocaine seizure reported from the city in the last one year.

The police estimate that the market value of the seized contraband would be around ₹15 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Ch. Akshay alias Munna (34), a resident of APSEB Colony in Seethammadhara, and Thomas Djimon (30), hailing from Pretoria in South African, currently residing in Delhi.

Police Commissioner Shankabratha Bagchi told the media that acting on a tip-off about cocaine being supplied from Delhi to Visakhapatnam, the III Town Police and the EAGLE team carried out a joint operation and arrested the suspects near a vacant plot in Andhra University’s North Campus.

“We had prior information that the South African national was carrying the contraband. We followed him and waited for the receiver of the cocaine,” Mr. Bagchi said

Preliminary investigation revealed that the cocaine was procured from Delhi. However, it is yet to be ascertained that whether the cocaine was sourced from South Africa or elsewhere else, he said.

Akshay, who works as an insurance agent, reportedly confessed that he, along with his friends, intended to consume the contraband, and they had agreed to pay ₹3.60 lakh for the cocaine.

According to police, the kingpins of the racket are Prince alias Omenefe and Butchi, both based in Delhi.

Akshay allegedly contacted Prince and placed the order, and the latter engaged Thomas to deliver the contraband in Visakhapatnam.

Investigation also revealed that Akshay had shared the delivery location with Thomas via WhatsApp, and picked him up near the AU Arch at Maddilapalem. He drove Thomas to an isolated spot where the contraband was handed over inside a diary.

“We are yet to ascertain whether this was the first such delivery to the city and how many people are involved in the racket. Investigation is on,” said the Police Commissioner.

A special team of the city police will travel to Delhi to trace the links of the supply chain, he added.