Nigerian woman arrested in India for allegedly trafficking illicit substances

A Nigerian woman, Faith Racheal, has been arrested by Indian authorities in Delhi for allegedly smuggling and supplying a substantial quantity of psychotropic substances.

According to reports, Racheal was apprehended on August 14 in the Mehrauli area of the capital city.

Police reports stated that Racheal was found in possession of 3.87 kilograms of mescaline, a potent hallucinogenic drug with a high value on the international market. The seized quantity is estimated to be worth approximately Rs15 crore.

Racheal had initially arrived in India in August 2022 on a medical visa but had overstayed her visa period.

During her extended stay, she allegedly became involved with a Nigerian national engaged in drug smuggling, ultimately joining a narcotics cartel.

The police revealed that Racheal played a key role in facilitating the delivery of narcotics between couriers, utilising her connections within the cartel.

Mescaline, a naturally occurring psychedelic substance derived from the Mexican Peyote cactus and the San Pedro cactus native to Peru and Ecuador, has effects similar to those of LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

It is often used as a party drug and can be found in various forms, including powder, tablets, capsules, or liquid.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Amit Kaushik stated that the drugs were smuggled inside packages of branded toffee and fish food, making detection more difficult.

Racheal’s arrest followed a tip-off, leading to a raid in the Mehrauli area, where the drugs were discovered.

Racheal remains in custody as the investigation continues, with authorities probing deeper into the network and her connections to the broader narcotics trade.