A Nigerian woman has been arrested in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, after police allegedly found 57.18 grammes of cocaine worth more than Rs29 lakh, approximately N40.9m, in her possession.

According to a News18 Hindi report on Monday, the woman, identified as Emmanuel Joy, a Lagos resident, was arrested by Chandan Nagar police near IT Park, Sinhasa.

Joy was reportedly travelling from Mumbai to Indore to supply the cocaine.

The report said the arrest was made during heightened security checks ahead of the Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami celebrations. Police officers patrolling the IT Park Sinhasa area reportedly became suspicious after spotting Joy carrying a black bag.

“A foreign woman carrying a black bag appeared suspicious,” the report quoted the police as saying.

Police reportedly stopped and questioned her, but her responses were deemed unsatisfactory, prompting officers to conduct a search in the presence of female police personnel.

The search allegedly resulted in the recovery of 57.18 grammes of cocaine, which was concealed in a transparent bag.

According to the report, the seized substance was valued at more than Rs29 lakh.

News18 Hindi reported that “Joy arrived in India from Nigeria on August 14 on a seven-month business visa and was living in Bandra East, Mumbai, where she worked at a hair salon with her sister.”