India: Nigerian woman arrested with cocaine hidden in loaf of bread

In a surprising twist on drug smuggling tactics, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru have arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian woman for concealing cocaine inside loaves of bread. The suspect, identified as Olajide Esther, was intercepted on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as she traveled via a private bus from Mumbai to Bengaluru. Authorities recovered 121 grams of cocaine, estimated to be worth approximately Rs 65 lakh, hidden within the baked goods.

Investigators discovered that Esther had meticulously prepared her cargo to evade the usual security sweeps. As part of a “precision, intelligence-driven operation,” the CCB team kept surveillance on her movements after receiving a tip-off. Upon her arrival and subsequent search, officers found that the cocaine was stashed inside bread slices that had been hollowed out and packed alongside other food items in her backpack. According to a senior police officer, this method was chosen specifically “to minimise suspicion and avoid courier-based interception.”

The suspect was reportedly a key link in a peddling network, supplying the illegal substance to customers within Bengaluru. Preliminary investigations revealed that Esther had allegedly procured the narcotics from a male associate in Mumbai with instructions to hand them over to another Nigerian national in the city. “She was directed to carry the drug herself and hand it over to another Nigerian national residing in Bengaluru. This was done to minimise suspicion and avoid courier-based interception,” an investigating officer revealed.

Following Esther’s arrest and statement, police conducted a targeted follow-up operation near Varthur, successfully apprehending the intended recipient of the drugs. Officials confirmed that the prospective buyer was deported shortly after his arrest. Reflecting on the unusual concealment method, a senior officer remarked, “This case shows how traffickers are constantly innovating ways, using common household items and food as cover.”

Esther’s background has also come under scrutiny; she reportedly entered New Delhi on a student visa but never enrolled in any educational institution. Instead, she frequently relocated between Mumbai suburbs like Ghatkopar to facilitate her activities. A case has now been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigations are underway to dismantle the remaining links in her supply chain