Police struggle for 30 minutes to nab 6.5-foot Nigerian in Dombivli 2.16 cr drug bust

KALYAN: Police faced a dramatic struggle while attempting to nab a 6.5-foot-tall Nigerian national during an anti-narcotics operation conducted by the Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) in Dombivli.

Acting on specific intelligence, a six-member police team led by API Anil Gaikwad launched a targeted operation on Friday to intercept the suspect, who had allegedly arrived to supply narcotics to two associates in Ambernath. However, the arrest did not come easily. According to officials, the accused violently resisted detention, pushing and shoving officers and briefly throwing the team off balance. After nearly 30 minutes of intense effort, the police managed to overpower and secure him.

The main suspect, a 36-year-old Nigerian national who identified himself as Williams Kaku, was arrested along with two Ambernath residents — Avinash Venkatesh (34) and Gajendra Naidu (34), an autorickshaw driver.

During the operation, police seized 1 kg and 4 grams of MD drugs, estimated to be worth over ₹2 crore, along with 15 grams of cocaine valued at more than ₹15 lakh. The total value of the confiscated narcotics is reported to exceed ₹2.16 crore. The drugs were allegedly recovered from the accused’s vehicle.

Atul Zende, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 3 of Thane police said that the Nigerian suspect provided multiple names during questioning and is believed to have been residing in Mumbai for the past two to three years. In past too he is involved into drugs related cases in Mumbai.

Zende further said, "Team are now working to verify his identity and trace his local connections".

Preliminary inquiries revealed that co-accused Avinash Venkatesh has a prior criminal case registered against him, while Gajendra Naidu has no known criminal history.

Officials said the arrests are part of an intensified crackdown on drug trafficking in the Kalyan division. In 2025, the Kalyan division of Thane Police registered 101 narcotics-related cases, arrested 146 individuals, and seized drugs worth over ₹6 crore.

In two significant cases, the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was also invoked against organised gangs.

Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the seized drugs, the supply chain involved, and the extent of the accused’s alleged role in narcotics trafficking.