Nigerian Footballer Detained in India for Drug Charges

Last Saturday, a Nigerian national named Michael was taken into custody near the Vijayamangalam toll plaza in Erode, Tamil Nadu, by a team from the Prohibition Enforcement Wing, directed by Inspector Sivahami Rani, following a tip-off.

Jones Michael, aged 32 and formerly a footballer, has been detained in India due to the alleged possession of methamphetamine valued at ₹15 lakh (approximately ₦27.9 million).

As reported by The Times of India, Michael’s arrest took place last Saturday near the Vijayamangalam toll gate in Erode, Tamil Nadu, conducted by a team from the Prohibition Enforcement Wing under the leadership of Inspector Sivahami Rani, who was following up on a lead.

Investigations disclosed that Michael was residing in India without appropriate immigration documents. His passport expired in 2023, and officials suspect he may have illegally entered the country via maritime routes.

“His passport had expired in 2023, and it is likely that he illegally entered the country by sea,” Rani stated.

He faces charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, as well as the Foreigners Act, and is currently held in judicial custody at Coimbatore Central Prison.

In addition, a local resident named Melvin, 49, from Perundurai, was arrested for providing housing to the Nigerian without properly verifying his identity or legal status.