Indian authorities have arrested a 27-year-old Nigerian national, identified as Obase Prosper, over allegations of cyber fraud, drug trafficking and immigration offences following a joint operation by security agencies in New Delhi.
Prosper, an indigene of Imo State, was apprehended on Friday evening during an operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Investigators alleged that he had overstayed a medical visa issued in 2023 and was found in possession of 5.085 kilogrammes of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than Rs10 crore.
According to Indian authorities, Prosper is suspected to be a key member of an international romance scam syndicate accused of targeting victims through fake social media identities. The group allegedly operated on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, posing as citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom to deceive unsuspecting victims.
Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, said members of the syndicate allegedly built online relationships with Indian men and women before claiming they were sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and valuables to India.
According to Singh, victims were subsequently contacted by individuals impersonating officials of the Customs Department or Income Tax authorities and falsely informed that the parcels had been seized because they contained excessive cash or valuable items. They were then allegedly persuaded to pay customs duties, Goods and Services Tax (GST), income tax and other clearance charges before the fictitious consignments could be released.
The investigation was launched following a complaint from a resident of Daliganj, Lucknow, who alleged that he was defrauded of nearly Rs68 lakh after establishing contact on Facebook with a woman using the fake identity “Doris William”, who claimed to be from England. Police said the victim was repeatedly instructed to make payments for various charges and was allegedly presented with a forged Royal Bank of Scotland certificate to lend credibility to the scheme.
Investigators disclosed that another Nigerian national, identified as Uchenwa, had earlier been arrested on May 15, 2026, in connection with the same investigation, while Prosper allegedly evaded arrest until the latest operation.
Acting on intelligence suggesting that Prosper was also involved in narcotics trafficking, the STF partnered with the Narcotics Control Bureau to execute the raid that led to his arrest. Officials said they recovered 5.085 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, five mobile phones and two passports during the operation.
During interrogation, investigators alleged that Prosper admitted remaining in India after his medical visa expired and claimed that fellow Nigerian nationals introduced him to the cyber fraud network. Police further alleged that he confessed the syndicate used fake foreign identities on social media to establish relationships with Indian victims before extorting money through fabricated customs and tax demands.
Authorities also alleged that Prosper admitted he and Uchenwa jointly orchestrated the alleged Rs68 lakh fraud involving the Lucknow complainant. Investigators believe several other members of the syndicate are still operating from Delhi, where they are allegedly involved in both cyber fraud and narcotics trafficking.
The STF said investigations are continuing to trace the syndicate’s financial transactions, scrutinise bank accounts and digital wallets, and carry out forensic examinations of the electronic devices seized during the operation.
(The Sun)
