VIDEO: Nigerian Man Arrested with Cocaine in India Alleges Police Frame-Up

A 39-year-old Nigerian man, Frank Chibuzor Nandi, has accused Indian anti-narcotics officers of falsely implicating him in a drug case, claiming they planted a bag containing cocaine on him during his arrest in Mumbai.

According to the Times of India, Nandi was apprehended last Saturday by officers of the Worli unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) in the Malad area of Mumbai. The officers alleged that Nandi was in possession of 200 grams of cocaine, with a street value of Rs 2 crores—approximately ₦360 million.

The police said the arrest was based on a specific intelligence tip. Acting on the information, they laid a trap near PJ Colony on Orlem Marve Road in Malad, where Nandi was intercepted with a bag. A search of the bag, according to police, led to the recovery of a white powdery substance, which was confirmed by a field test to be cocaine.

Police also reported seizing a Honda City vehicle from Nandi. A panchnama—a written record of the search and seizure—was prepared at the scene before he was taken into custody.

Nandi was arraigned before the Holiday Court on Sunday, where he denied all allegations and told the court that he had been set up by the police.

“The police simply arrested me, planted the bag on me, took photos and videos, and later said the seizure was drugs. I completely deny this,” he said in open court.

The magistrate advised him to engage legal representation, but Nandi requested permission to contact his wife first before appointing a lawyer. The court then directed the police to facilitate a phone call to his wife.

He remains in custody while the investigation continues.