Nigerian women caught at Bengaluru airport with 37 kg MDMA in biggest drug haul in Karnataka.
March 16, 2025: 
Mangaluru: In Karnataka's largest-ever drug bust, two Nigerian women were arrested at Bengaluru airport with over 37 kg of MDMA valued at ₹75 crore, police said on Sunday.
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Arrest & Seizure Details
Accused:
- Bamba Fanta (31) and Abigail Adonis (30), both Nigerian nationals.
- Residing in Delhi, they were part of a major drug cartel operating across India.
Seized Items:
- 37 kg of MDMA (Ecstasy) worth ₹75 crore.
- Four mobile phones, passports, and ₹18,000 cash.
Modus Operandi:
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- The women frequently used air routes to transport drugs across India.
- Travel history: 37 trips to Mumbai and 22 trips to Bengaluru over the past year.
- Fanta entered India on a business visa in 2020, while Adonis has been in the country since 2016.
How the Police Tracked Them Down
The arrests stemmed from an earlier drug bust six months ago, where a man named Haider Ali was caught with 15 grams of MDMA in Mangaluru.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Nigerian national Peter in Bengaluru, who was found with 6 kg of MDMA. His interrogation exposed a larger drug network, leading police to Bamba Fanta and Abigail Adonis.
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Next Steps & Investigation
The police are now investigating the drug syndicate’s network in India and are tracing other associates involved.
Authorities are also examining financial transactions linked to the cartel to uncover further drug routes and suppliers.
Conclusion
This major crackdown on international drug smuggling highlights the growing nexus of foreign cartels operating in India. Police have assured further action to dismantle the entire network and prevent large-scale drug trafficking in the country.
Tags:
Karnataka drug bust, Bengaluru drug seizure, MDMA smuggling India, Nigerian drug cartel India, Bengaluru airport arrests, drug trafficking India, Mumbai drug network, Mangaluru police crackdown, international drug racket, Indian law enforcement
Last Updated on March 16, 2025 by Misha Bhatia
