The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) have arrested three Nigerians, a South African and a local on suspicion of belonging to an international network of traffickers of cocaine.
The quintet were arrested in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, following a complaint from the local population.
Maputo police spokesman Leonel Muchina said that the group was caught while “threatening” a Nigerian, who allegedly received eight kilograms of cocaine from Brazil, worth an estimated 18 million meticais, and destined for South Africa.
The alleged receiver reportedly tried to break the deal after receiving the contraband, prompting the international network to dispatch some members from Brazil to Maputo to recover the cocaine.
On arrival in Maputo, the group had offered a Mozambican 50,000 meticais – 28,000 meticais in advance and 22,000 after job completion – to identify the receiver’s place of residence.
Once the alleged receiver’s residence was located, the group visited and subjected him to torture, including the firing of a gun close to his ear.
The gunshot alerted neighbours who tipped off the police.
The police said one of the alleged drug traffickers who came to Mozambique to recover the drug confessed to his participation in the illegal operation but the alleged receiver of the drugs denied being part of the group, insisting he had never received any drugs.
The National Migration Service (SENAMI) revealed that the Nigerians involved in the case entered the country illegally and would be deported after prosecution.