A 26-year-old Nigerian woman, Rita Fati Kurebewei, has been arrested in Palghar district, Maharashtra, for allegedly possessing and producing mephedrone, a banned drug, valued at Rs 5.6 crore, according to Indian police reports on Saturday, May 17.
The arrest followed a Friday raid at her residence in the Pragati Nagar area of Nalla Sopara, prompted by a tip-off. During the operation, police discovered that Kurebewei had been using the premises as a clandestine drug production unit.
Authorities confiscated a significant quantity of mephedrone along with raw materials and equipment used in its production.
“Our team entered the premises and confirmed it was being used to manufacture MD. We immediately secured the drugs, tools, and ingredients found on-site,” an official said.
The woman was taken into custody under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Her alleged partner, Henryuchenna Uwakwe, is currently on the run, with efforts underway to track him down.
Police say the pair were involved in illegal manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, and the ongoing investigation aims to dismantle their wider supply network.
Nala Sopara, Maharashtra: A Nigerian woman living illegally in India was arrested by Police for possession of MD drugs (Mephedrone) worth over Rs 5.6 crore. Acting on confidential information, the police seized the drugs along with manufacturing materials from her residence. The… pic.twitter.com/tK4ZussaqK
— IANS (@ians_india) May 17, 2025