India, March 31 -- A special NDPS court has refused to discharge a Nigerian national accused in a cocaine trafficking case, observing that the material on record establishes a prima facie case and warrants the framing of charges.

Special judge RR Patare rejected the application filed by Chima Progress Chukwu, an accused in a case stemming from a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The court held that there was sufficient material linking him to the alleged offence.

According to the prosecution, 826 grams of cocaine-classified as a commercial quantity-was seized from a co-accused who had allegedly imported the contraband into India and was to deliver it to Chukwu at Palm Beach Road in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai.

The court ...