A 27-year-old Nigerian national, Obase Prosper, has been arrested in Delhi, India, for drug possession and involvement in an international romance scam. Prosper entered India on a medical visa but overstayed illegally after its expiry in 2023. He was found in possession of 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over ₹10 crore (approximately $1.2 million).
Arrest and Joint Operation
Obase Prosper was arrested on Friday, July 17, 2026, during a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Delhi. The operation targeted both drug trafficking and cyber fraud activities.
Romance Scam Syndicate
According to Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh, Prosper was a key member of a Nigerian syndicate that operated an international romance scam. The gang created fake profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, impersonating citizens from the United States and the United Kingdom.
“The gang befriended Indian men and women online, lured them into romantic relationships, and later claimed to be sending expensive gifts, foreign currency and valuables to India,” Singh said.
Victim Losses
The investigation gained momentum after a resident of Daligan, Lucknow, reported being defrauded. The victim was befriended on Facebook by a woman using the alias ‘Doris William’ from England. Investigators revealed that the victim was cheated of nearly ₹68 lakh (approximately $82,000) through repeated demands for customs duty, GST, and other charges. The fraudsters also sent a forged Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) certificate to make the scam appear legitimate.
Legal Proceedings
A case has been registered at the Madiaon police station in Lucknow. The UP STF and NCB are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and identify other victims.
