Two Nigerian Women Linked to Drug Cartel Arrested

Hyderabad: The EAGLE Special Task Force (STF) on Monday arrested two African national women — Cathy Hanchabila alias Emily (27) and Ellena Kasakatira (43) — for their alleged role in supplying drugs on behalf of a Nigerian cartel.

The arrests followed interrogation of peddlers Nitin Singhania and Shranik Singhvi, who were caught two days earlier with 43 grams of cocaine and 11.5 grams of MDMA. The duo confessed to procuring the drugs from the women, who transported the contraband from Mumbai to Hyderabad.

Investigations revealed that a Nigerian cartel operating out of Nalasopara, Mumbai had engaged the women as carriers. STF tracked and arrested them after they returned to Mumbai. Legal proceedings, including movement restriction orders and deportation, are underway.

Officials also uncovered details of a late-night party at Kalamb beach, Nalasopara, attended by about 300 people, mostly African nationals. At the gathering, the women reportedly came into contact with Emeka, a Nigerian peddler who introduced them to the cartel network.

The Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) arrested Juliana Victor Nabitaka (27), a Ugandan national, for her alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

A native of Kampala, Juliana arrived in India on a tourist visa on January 12, 2024, via Mumbai. She befriended foreign drug peddlers and began associating with them. She later became involved in trafficking to earn easy money and maintain a lavish lifestyle, police said.

Her visa expired on January 1, 2025, but she continued to stay illegally in India. H-NEW officials said she was found moving with drug peddlers in Tolichowki police station limits, where she was arrested.

Task Force DCP Vaibhav Gaikwad stated that the deportation process was initiated with the assistance of the FRRO, Hyderabad. An exit permit was obtained, and Juliana has been blacklisted from re-entering India.