Pernem: Pernem police have arrested a 38-year-old Dattaraj Pednekar for renting out his private bike to a Nigerian national who used the vehicle for smuggling drugs in the coastal state.
Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta told reporters on Friday that Pernem police had arrested Nigerian national Ugochukwu Solomon Ubabuko (43) on October 14 for paddling drugs in the state.
The Nigerian national was arrested near Old Ferry Point, Mahakhajan, Dhargal, Pernem for possessing Ganja, Ecstasy, all worth Rs 40,000. He was arrested under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Gupta said that the accused had hidden the drugs in a two-wheeler, which was also seized during the raid.
He said that one Dattaraj Pednekar (38) had rented out his private bike to the paddler. Gupta said that the vehicle was given without verifying his identity or maintaining any documentation.
“The vehicle was allegedly used in the commission of the crime,” the SP adding that Solomon (Nigerian who was arrested) has nine criminal cases against him and is a known drug paddler.
Gupta said that the vehicle owner is arrested under section 25 of the NDPS Act for allowing his vehicle to be used for illegal activities.
“All the rental vehicle owners are hereby warned to not rent their vehicle knowingly to drug paddlers, else they will be liable for similar criminal action,” he said.
