Bengaluru: A foreign national has been arrested for allegedly transporting cocaine worth ₹1.20 crore from Mumbai to Bengaluru by concealing the contraband inside bread covers while travelling on private buses, police said on Tuesday.
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) Narcotics Control Wing recovered 121 grams of cocaine from the accused during a recent raid. A mobile phone allegedly used to coordinate the drug supply network was also seized. Police have not disclosed the identity of the woman.
According to senior police officials, the arrest followed a tip-off that a foreign woman residing within the limits of Varthur police station was involved in supplying cocaine to known contacts in Bengaluru. Acting on the information, the CCB conducted a targeted operation and detained the accused.
Investigations revealed that the woman had arrived in Delhi in 2024 on a student visa, claiming to pursue higher studies. However, police said she never enrolled in any educational institution and later moved to different locations in Mumbai, including Ghatkopar, Ambawadi and Nallasopara.
Police further stated that she allegedly procured cocaine from an associate in Mumbai and transported it to Bengaluru as per instructions received from him. To evade detection, she is believed to have concealed the drugs in bread covers and similar food packaging while frequently travelling between the two cities in private buses.
A case has been registered against her under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Varthur police station. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway to identify her network and suppliers.
In a separate operation, Bengaluru police also arrested two persons from another state for allegedly selling banned narcotic substances. From their possession, officers seized 247 grams of hydro ganja and 19 grams of MDMA, collectively valued at ₹26.90 lakh.
The arrests were made on December 21 after Jalahalli police received specific information about narcotics being sold near Kalingarao Circle. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to purchasing the drugs at lower prices from unknown sources and selling them at higher rates to customers in Bengaluru.
Police said efforts are ongoing to trace the larger supply chain involved in both cases.
