Nigerian That Sells ‘Seeds That Cure AIDS’ In India Arrested

by firmtech1.blogspot.com on 06:14 in Crime

A Nigerian national and three accomplices were
arrested by the Local Crime Branch (LCB), Thane
Rural for cheating a resident local of nearly Rs. 23
lakh in an online scam. Police said the Nigerian
offered a dealership for ‘special seeds’ that grow
only in Nigeria, which he claimed can cure AIDS.

The seeds turned out to be ‘Bitter Kola’ (botanical
name: Garcinia kola ), which grows in abundance in
Western and Central Africa.

Anil Mathur, a resident of Naya Nagar, Mira Road
came in contact with the Nigerian, identified as
Uzoma Eleazar, on social media and developed a
friendship. Eleazar offered Mr. Mathur a dealership
in seeds that he claimed used to produce expensive
medicines in Nigeria. The victim fell for it and had
paid nearly Rs. 23 lakh since June 21.

Police said Eleazar managed to sell seeds in 400-
gram packets for Rs. 1 lakh each. API Prafull Wagh,
LCB, Thane Rural said the seeds are sold for Rs.
1,000 per kg in Nigeria.

Mr. Wagh said, “We have arrested Eleazar and his
Indian agents, Taufiq Hussain, 47, a resident of
Panvel, Fazal Ahmed Syed, 28, and Yogesh Kumar
Patil, 31, from Navi Mumbai. All accused have been
remanded in police custody till July 27 by a Thane
court. We have also seized around 10 mobile
handsets using which the accused called Mr.
Mathur from different numbers, three laptops, Rs
4.20 lakh in cash and packets containing the
seeds.”

He said more arrests are likely as the accused have
conned several people in Maharashtra and other
states through an online scam. “We have appealed
to the victims to come forward and register
complaints against the accused,” Mr. Wagh said.