Hyderabad: Peddler Nigeria Chukwu Ogbonna David aka Tony, who was arrested for the first time on Wednesday by City Cops from Pune since coming to India in 2013, never met his client directly, only operating through his trusted lieutenant.
The police, however, said they had found evidence that burdued on cellphones from several of the seven customers they arrested on Thursday.
“We have sent cellphones confiscated for forensic analysis and data collection,” said a police officer.
The police unit picked up a 37-year-old Nigeria from a resort at Pune where he had taken a temporary residence after several colleagues were arrested by the city police.
“He usually lives in a resort and a star hotel, wins and eat with his girlfriend,” said an investigation.
The police said that Tony served around 100 trusted customers from Hyderabad, Goa and Mumbai through the Association of Cover Imran Babu Shaik, Noor Mohhammed Khan, Aftab, Parwaz, Rahamh, Irfan and Firdos.
He rarely accepts new requests, even if they come with references, police said.
“In Hyderabad Tony has around 30 clients and recently he places the shipping person in Hyderabad.
Every two weeks, the delivery agent changes and they also continue to change the place to stay.
Tony has a reputation for quality and sells grams for ₹ 8,000 to regular customers and A little higher for others, “said a task unit official.
After the police arrested his colleagues in Hyderabad a few weeks ago, he removed whatsapp from his call.
But based on telephone contact, the police focused on 13 customers from the city and seven of them together with two employees now arrested.
“Every time the customer places an order, Tony will remind his agent in Hyderabad and tell the customer’s place to take.
His agent has never been directly related to customers.
In the case of suspicion, Tony, who uses the Nigerian SIM, will make whatsapp video calls without showing his face and checking Clients and the environment before making an agreement, “said a police officer.
Payment of cash and digital mode, with Tony interesting or transferring it immediately after every day.
The police only found ₹ 16,000 in one of his accounts.
Inspector Punjagutta Niranjan Reddy said that Tony, seven consumers and two of their employees have now been sent to Heyicial Remand.
“We have transferred the petition before the court seeks police detainees and we may get it next week,” Inspector said.