In a significant drug bust in Bengaluru, India, two African women were arrested with a staggering 37.87 kilograms of MDMA, valued at approximately $8.6 million (Rs 75 crore).
The operation, which was part of an extensive six-month investigation, was hailed as one of the largest drug seizures ever conducted by the Karnataka State Police.
The women, identified as Bamba Fanta, 31, and Abigail Adonis, 30, both from South Africa, were detained by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) after being tracked for several hours in Bengaluru on March 14, 2025.
They were allegedly transporting the illicit drug from Delhi to Bengaluru by flight, intending to distribute it across various locations in the city.
Police also seized two trolley bags, two passports, and a small sum of cash from the women.
According to City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, the arrests were the result of a months-long investigation that began after a smaller seizure of 15 grams of MDMA in Mangaluru.
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The investigation ultimately led authorities to Peter Ikedi Belonwu, a Nigerian national believed to be a key player in the smuggling syndicate.
After his arrest, further tracking revealed that the women were using air travel to move large amounts of MDMA between Delhi and Bengaluru, and they were living lavish lifestyles funded by drug trafficking profits.
Authorities also discovered that the women had been using fake passports and visas to facilitate their smuggling operation.
They had made 59 trips between Delhi and Bengaluru in the past six months, indicating the scale of their trafficking activities.
The CCB is continuing to investigate the source of the MDMA, as it remains unclear whether it was sourced domestically or trafficked into India from abroad.
The women, who had been engaged in the drug trade for over a year and a half, are facing serious charges.
