Mumbai: Sierra Leonese man held with heroin worth Rs 50 lakh

A man from a west African country has been arrested from Dadar in central Mumbai with 500 grams of high-grade heroin, worth Rs 50 lakh in international market, police said on Tuesday.

The accused identified as Gael Legaie alias Eze from Republic of Sierra Leone, located on the west coast of Africa, was on Sunday last and 500 grams of heroin, meticulously hidden in bangle boxes, was recovered, Deputy Police Commissioner Dattatrai Karale told reporters.

Acting on a tip-off, Matunga police laid a trap near Hindu Colony at Dadar at about 2.20 PM when Gael found moving suspiciously in the area, police said.

"Gael was intercepted and a plastic bag with him was checked. The high-grade drugs in the form of powder was found kept in the boxes. Although the value of the drugs in Indian market is Rs five lakh, the same quantity is worth Rs 50 lakh in the international market," said another police officer.

Two mobile phones, a passport, cash of Rs 4,000 were also recovered from the accused, who is in India on a tourist visa, police said.

The accused was arrested under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by Matunga police, the officer said adding that, "The accused had come to Dadar to deliver the consignment to his accomplice, who is an African national."

The accused was produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till May 29, police said adding that he had come here from Delhi two days back.