By Ado Oyeyemi
Indian security authorities have arrested a 27 year old Nigerian, Obase Prosper, over alleged involvement in an international online romance scam and drug trafficking operation.
Prosper was apprehended during a joint operation carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau in the RK Puram area of New Delhi on Friday.
According to Indian authorities, the suspect was found with 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine estimated to be worth more than Rs10 crore. Officers also recovered five mobile phones and two passports during the operation.
Investigators identified Prosper as a native of Imo State, Nigeria, and alleged that he travelled to India in 2023 on a medical visa but failed to leave the country after the visa expired.
The police further accused him of belonging to an international cybercrime syndicate that allegedly targeted Indian residents through fake social media profiles.
Speaking on the investigation, Additional Superintendent of Police, Vishal Vikram Singh, said members of the network allegedly posed as citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to establish online relationships with unsuspecting victims.
According to him, after gaining the victims’ trust, the suspects claimed they were sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and other valuables to India.
Victims were later contacted by individuals posing as Customs or Income Tax officials and informed that the parcels had been seized because they contained prohibited amounts of cash or valuable items.
The fraudsters allegedly demanded payments described as customs duties, income tax, Goods and Services Tax and other clearance fees before the fictitious parcels could be released.
The investigation began after a resident of Daliganj in Lucknow reported losing nearly Rs68 lakh to the scheme.
The complainant told investigators he had been contacted on Facebook by a woman using the name “Doris William,” who claimed to be based in England.
Police said the victim was persuaded to make several payments and was allegedly provided with a forged Royal Bank of Scotland document to convince him that the transaction was genuine.
Authorities disclosed that another Nigerian suspect identified as Uchenwa had earlier been arrested on May 15, 2026, in connection with the case, while Prosper allegedly remained at large until his arrest.
Based on intelligence suggesting Prosper was also involved in narcotics trafficking, the Special Task Force collaborated with the Narcotics Control Bureau to carry out the operation that led to his arrest.
During interrogation, investigators alleged that Prosper admitted remaining in India after his visa expired and claimed he was introduced to the cyber fraud network by fellow Nigerian nationals.
Police further alleged that he confessed that members of the syndicate created fake foreign identities on social media to deceive victims into romantic relationships before demanding payments through fabricated customs and tax claims.
Investigators also claimed Prosper admitted that he and Uchenwa jointly coordinated the alleged fraud involving the Lucknow resident.
Authorities said several other members of the network are believed to be operating from Delhi, where they are suspected of engaging in cyber fraud and drug trafficking.
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The Special Task Force said investigations are continuing to trace the syndicate’s financial transactions, examine bank accounts and digital wallets, and conduct forensic analysis of the electronic devices recovered during the operation.
