Major Drug Bust: Mangaluru Police Arrest Two South Africans with ₹75 Crore MDMA

The Mangaluru police arrested two South African women, seizing 37.878 kg of MDMA worth ₹75 crore, marking Karnataka’s largest drug haul. The arrests followed a year-long investigation involving previous drug-related arrests and revealed the women’s extensive interstate delivery operations.

In a significant drug bust, the Mangaluru police apprehended two South African women and seized 37.878 kilograms of MDMA valued at ₹75 crore. This operation marks the highest drug seizure by Karnataka police to date. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal revealed that the MDMA was transported on a domestic flight from Delhi to Bengaluru.

The accused, identified as Bamba Fanta alias Adonis Jabulile, 31, and Abigail Adonis alias Olijo Evans, 30, both hail from South Africa. Their arrest resulted from an extensive investigation initiated by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Mangaluru, following the previous arrest of a local alleged drug peddler named Hyder Ali in 2024, from whom a small quantity of MDMA was recovered.

In further investigative efforts, authorities linked the two women to significant drug deliveries. It was discovered that they had been making routine trips from Delhi to Bengaluru and were delivering MDMA every two weeks. For six months, the CCB monitored their movements closely. The women were apprehended after arriving at Bengaluru International Airport on March 14 and attempting to deliver the narcotics.

During the operation, the CCB seized not only the MDMA but also four mobile phones, two bags, the women’s passports, and ₹18,460 in cash. Investigations revealed that they had made numerous flights over the past year to deliver drugs across Mumbai and Bengaluru, raising concerns about their ability to evade airport security.

Police Commissioner Agrawal indicated that these women had been involved in drug trafficking for approximately 18 months, employing fraudulent travel documents. Fanta, a food cart entrepreneur, entered India in 2020 on a business visa and has remained, while Adonis entered on a medical visa in 2016.

Due to the women’s engagement in significant interstate drug trafficking operations, the Mangaluru police plan to collaborate with the Narcotics Control Bureau to investigate their network further. Commissioner Agrawal commended the diligent efforts of the CCB team in dismantling this major drug peddling operation and announced an impending award for the officers involved.

The Mangaluru police’s successful operation led to the arrest of two South African women linked to a substantial MDMA trafficking network, resulting in the largest drug seizure in Karnataka’s history. Ongoing investigations promise to further unravel the breadth of their operations and potential connections to international drug trafficking. The dedication of the CCB team underscores law enforcement’s commitment to combating drug-related crimes.

Original Source: www.thehindu.com