Nigerian national, Emmanuel Chukwunonso Samson, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Special Court for Essential Commodities (EC) Act cases in Coimbatore, India, for his role in an international drug smuggling case investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
The case stemmed from July 17, 2012, when NCB’s Chennai Zonal Unit intercepted three parcels at a courier office in Chennai following specific intelligence.
The parcels, which were concealed inside ladies handbags, cardboard packing of car gaskets and embroidery materials, were marked for delivery to countries including West Africa, Australia and Spain.
According to NCB, “The parcels contained 1.195 kg of heroin and 200 gm of methaqualone, which is a sedative-hypnotic drug used for insomnia and anxiety, fetching a total value of over ₹2 crore in the international market.”
NCB added, “NCB arrested James from Erode for his involvement in the smuggling and seized four kg of ganja from him during subsequent investigation.”
The trial concluded on September 20 with the Coimbatore court handing down the prison term along with a fine of ₹1 lakh.
The Bureau further advised the public that, “Information related to sale/transport/trade of narcotics can be informed by dialling national narcotics helpline ‘MANAS’ – 1933. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential.”
