Nigerian and Zambian nationals sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for drug trafficking in India

A court in Ahmedabad, India has sentenced a Nigerian and a Zambian national to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for drug trafficking. 

The special court for Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases, in its order passed on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each on the two accused, according to news agency PTI.

Based on intelligence inputs, the Narcotics Control Bureau apprehended Hanchabila John, a citizen of Zambia, for smuggling 2.75 kg of heroin on a flight from Dubai to Ahmedabad on September 3, 2021, the NCB’s Ahmedabad zonal unit said on Tuesday.

During the investigation, a Nigerian national, Nwaobu Christian Arinze (37), was identified as the receiver of the contraband and was subsequently arrested by the NCB here, it said.

A complaint was filed before the additional district and sessions court in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2022, for offences punishable under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.

After a detailed trial, the court on Tuesday convicted John and Arinze, the NCB said.