The story of 25-year-old Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, a Nigerian hairstylist and nail artist, has taken a tragic turn after she was arrested in India. She was caught with a staggering 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, a haul estimated to be worth over N1.8 billion (approximately Rs 10 crore).
Akinwunmi’s arrest happened last Tuesday in Tarahunase village, Bengaluru, following a tip-off. She had just arrived in Delhi with a suspicious bag containing the drugs, along with 11 new churidars—traditional Indian outfits. This incident comes just weeks after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako (also known as Maxwell), was arrested for drug trafficking by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, highlighting a concerning trend.
Further investigation into Ifeoluwa’s background revealed she initially arrived in India in October 2021 on a business visa. She later managed to secure a student visa, ostensibly to attend a university in Telangana. However, she never actually enrolled and has been living in India illegally since her visa expired in 2022.
During questioning, Akinwunmi claimed she had no idea what was inside the bag. She stated that a friend in Delhi had simply instructed her to deliver it to a man wearing a black hat. She also shared her aspirations of opening a salon business in Bengaluru and identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant, though she declined to provide any more personal details.
“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers.
“We noticed four men on two scooters in the area, but they did not collect the parcel. Princess was arrested while standing with the bag.
“There are credible leads on her boyfriend in Delhi, who is currently absconding. She will be taken into police custody for further investigation.
“This is the first case registered against her in the city, and we are yet to verify if there are any cases elsewhere in the country, ” police officer told The New Indian Express.
