Mangaluru Police Capture Two South Africans and Seize ₹75 Crore MDMA

Mangaluru police arrested two South African women and seized 37.878 kg of MDMA worth ₹75 crore, marking the largest drug bust by Karnataka police. The arrests resulted from ongoing investigations related to prior drug peddler apprehensions. Police suspect the women were part of a larger drug trafficking network and have been monitoring their activities for six months.

The Mangaluru police apprehended two South African women and confiscated an unprecedented 37.878 kg of MDMA, valued at ₹75 crore, which arrived via a domestic flight from Delhi to Bengaluru. This marks the largest drug seizure by Karnataka police to date, as confirmed by Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal on March 16, 2025.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Bamba Fanta alias Adonis Jabulile, 31, from Agbovillae Africaanse Sub Division, and Abigail Adonis alias Olijo Evans, 30, from Lieu De Naisance, Pretoria. These arrests stemmed from ongoing investigations by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) that followed the earlier capture of alleged drug peddler Hyder alias Hyder Ali in 2024, who was found with 15g of MDMA.

Investigative leads connected to Ali led to the arrest of a Nigerian suspect, Peter Ikedi Belonwu, who possessed 6.248 kg of MDMA. Information obtained from Belonwu indicated that the two South African women had been regularly flying to Bengaluru from Delhi to deliver narcotics, making such trips every two weeks.

The CCB had monitored the women’s movements for six months. Upon receiving a tip-off about their arrival on March 14, 2025, a team of CCB officers intercepted them at Bengaluru International Airport. Shortly after their landing around 12:30 a.m., they were tracked to a location in Neeladri Nagar, where they were arrested with the drugs.

In addition to the MDMA, authorities seized four mobile phones, two luggage bags, two passports, and ₹18,460 from the suspects. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two women had flown to Bengaluru 37 times and to Mumbai 22 times over the past year to distribute MDMA. Authorities are still investigating how they evaded security checks at these airports.

Agrawal stated that the accused have been involved in drug trafficking for the past 18 months, allegedly utilizing falsified identity documents. Fanta entered India on a business visa in 2020, while Adonis arrived on a medical visa in July 2016. Given the scale of their operations, the city police plan to collaborate with the Narcotic Control Bureau to uncover further details about the suspects and their networks.

Agrawal praised the diligent efforts of the CCB team led by Police Inspector K.M. Rafiq in exposing this significant drug syndicate. The team is expected to receive accolades for their work, with an award to be announced shortly by Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

The significant seizure of ₹75 crore worth of MDMA and the arrest of the two South African women underscore the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking in India. Continuous monitoring by law enforcement agencies, coupled with inter-agency collaboration, is crucial to dismantling such expansive drug operations. This case highlights the challenges faced in airport security and the need for increased vigilance. Law enforcement agencies remain committed to fighting narcotics crime and bringing traffickers to justice.

Original Source: www.thehindu.com