Authorities have uncovered a sprawling pan-India drug and hawala network, leading to the arrest of 50 Nigerian nationals in what officials describe as one of the most extensive coordinated operations in recent years.
In India, “hawala channel” refers to an informal, illegal system of money transfer that operates outside the regulated banking and financial system.
It is commonly used to move money domestically and internationally without leaving an official record.
According to investigators, “the scale of the multi-agency coordination was unprecedented.”
As part of the operation, the Telangana EAGLE force deployed 120 personnel to New Delhi, travelling in two dedicated railway bogies, according to NDTV.
The team remained in the capital for several weeks, assisting in intelligence gathering, surveillance activities, and execution of targeted raids.
The investigation penetrated multiple layers of a syndicate that had established a strong presence across major cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, and parts of Kerala.
Officials said the cartel was responsible for supplying high-value synthetic drugs such as Methamphetamine and Cocaine.
A major breakthrough in the probe exposed the extensive reach of the network’s clientele.
Investigators have identified roughly 2,000 individuals who allegedly received drugs through courier services and “dead-drop” methods.
The syndicate reportedly operated with a high level of sophistication, using encrypted communication channels and strategies similar to food delivery apps to arrange “dead drops”, a method designed to avoid direct interaction and thereby reduce the risk of detection.
Authorities also discovered that the sex trade was being exploited as a front for drug supply and distribution, further expanding the criminal enterprise’s footprint.
A parallel financial investigation revealed a meticulously structured hawala system that enabled the syndicate to move drug proceeds out of India.
Local hawala operators converted cash earnings into goods such as garments and human hair, which were then shipped to Lagos, Nigeria, effectively laundering the illicit profits.
Police sources said the suspected kingpin, whose identity is now reportedly known, alone laundered an estimated ₹15 crore (N2.4 billion) through these channels.
Officials described the arrest of 50 Nigerian nationals as a “pivotal moment” in the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating across India.
Authorities emphasised that dismantling the hawala channels used by such cartels, along with reinforcing verification systems for foreign nationals, is essential to addressing the persistent drug menace.
They also stressed the need to close loopholes in visa and passport controls, which have previously allowed deported individuals to re-enter the country and resume illicit activities.
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