Nigerian Nabbed in India for Drug Trafficking, Alleged International Romance Fraud

A 27-year-old Nigerian citizen, Obase Prosper, has been taken into custody in Delhi, India, after being found with a substantial quantity of methamphetamine. The illicit drugs, weighing 5.085 kilograms, are estimated to be worth over ₹10 crore. Authorities also accuse Prosper of being a principal figure within an international syndicate responsible for romance scams that have defrauded numerous Indian nationals.

Prosper, who initially entered India on a medical visa, had illegally remained in the country since his visa expired in 2023. His arrest, which occurred on Friday, July 17, 2026, was the result of a coordinated operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau, Delhi.

According to Vishal Vikram Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police for the STF, the accused was part of a Nigerian criminal network. This group allegedly established deceptive profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, posing as citizens from the United States and the United Kingdom. "The gang befriended Indian men and women online, lured them into romantic relationships, and later claimed to be sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and valuables to India,” Singh stated.

The investigation gained momentum following a complaint from a resident of Daligan. The victim reported being befriended on Facebook by a woman identifying herself as 'Doris William' from England. Investigators revealed that the victim was allegedly swindled out of nearly ₹68 lakh through persistent demands for various fees, including customs duty, GST, and other charges. To lend credibility to the fraud, a forged Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) certificate was reportedly sent to the victim. A formal case has been lodged at the Madiaon police station in Lucknow regarding the incident.