ALLEGED TARGET OF CHURCH MASSACRE AT OZUBULU BREAKS SILENCE

Aloysius Ikegwuonwu,(alias) Bishop,the alleged target of the August 6th massacre at the St Phillips Catholic church in Ozubulu in Anambra state, has finally broken his silence regarding the sad incident.
Bishop who was at the palace of Igwe Nnamdi Oruche, the traditional ruler of Ozubulu when Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers paid the monarch a condolence visit on Tuesday, August 15th, urged the traditional rulers in the state to invoke the spirits of the gods of the land to reveal the perpetrators of the massacre.

According to the Sun, Bishop said that since the traditional rulers were custodians of tradition in their various communities, they would pray that gods of the land should reveal the killers of the church worshippers and bring them to justice.

Reacting to allegations leveled against him as being one of those behind the attack, Bishop said

“Has anybody previously brought any complaint against me for any reason. Anybody I offended should come out publicly and say it.”

He stressed that the various empowerment programs he has initiated are pointers to the fact that he is a peace loving person. He added that God has blessed him enough to help others and that people should not be envious of that. He advised those making negative statements about him to stop immediately.

It has been alleged that the attack is as a result of a drug deal that went south between Bishop, a suspected drug dealer, and another alleged drug lord, in South Africa.

5 NIGERIANS ARRESTED FOR DRUGS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN INDIAN

The Times of India has reported, on Monday, July 24, 2017, the arrest of five Nigerians and an Indian lady by Indian police, the latest in the serial busting of Nigerian gangs either for drug related crimes or fraud.

According to the newspaper, the Nigerians and their Indian accomplice were found in possession of a wide variety of drugs, including cocaine, brown sugar and amphetamine. They were also accused of human trafficking by way of offering Nigerian girls into prostitution.

Arrested by the Rachakonda Police in Hyderabad were Palaparthi Sangeetha, 35, a resident of Sun City, her partner Cosmas Ojukwu, 30, their associates John Okorie, 26, a BA student of Nizam College, Okereke Cyril Anezi, 31, a BCom student of Nizam College and president of Nigerians in Hyderabad, John Paul Onyebuchi, 34, and Ogunka Henry Okechukwu, 31.

Sangeetha, the Indian partner of Cosmas and John Paul Onyebuchi were the first to be arrested. They were nabbed at a bus stop on Sunday night with three grams of cocaine and 200 grams of ganja in their possession.

Based on Sangeetha and John’s confessions, police raided Ojukwu Cosmas’ flat and arrested Cosmas having 10 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of brown sugar, 37 blue amphetamine tablets and 40 pink amphetamine tablets, a laptop, `1.54 lakh cash, three cell phones and an Activa vehicle in his possession.



Cosmas then told about his drug business in Hyderabad. “He had been procuring drugs from his friend Gabriel, who operates from Goa and Hyderabad. He supplied drugs through Sangeetha, John Paul and Henry,” Rachakonda commissioner Mahesh Bhagawat said.

After confessing about his drug network, Cosmas then gave away the address of his associates John Paul, Henry and Cyril. Police seized seven grams of cocaine, 300 grams of ganja, Rs 50,000 cash, laptop and cell phones from them, the TOI reported.

The hansindia.com gave the total drugs seized as 20 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of brown sugar, 39.8 grams amphetamine tablets and pieces, 1.675 kg of ganja and Rs 2 lakh cash.

John Paul and Henry confessed that in addition to peddling drugs, they also trafficked Nigerian women to customers in Kushaiguda and Neredmet areas.

“The Indian visas of Cosmas, John Paul and Henry had expired years ago . John Paul was arrested twice by Mapusa police of Goa in 2016 for illegal stay and drug peddling. Despite knowing about all this, Cyril knowingly provided him shelter at his rented flat in Yapral,” the commissioner of police said.

Cosmas, who came to India in 2012, was reported to have links with drug peddlers operating in Goa, Mumbai and Chennai. He sold each gram of cocaine and brown sugar for Rs 20,000 to customers

A NIGERIAN MAN ARRESTED IN FRANCE FOR SWALLOWING CONDOMS STUFFED WITH $90,000

The Custom authorities in France have said it arrested a Nigerian man, who swallowed condoms stuffed with 79,000 euros ($90,000). Punch reports.

According to officials, the man, who was nabbed in Strasbourg, had another 13,000 Swiss francs (11,900 euros, $13,500) concealed in his clothes.



The man allegedly told customs agents that he lived in Spain and worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant in the Balearic Islands.

But a sniffer dog detected marijuana on the banknotes hidden in his clothing.

That led to an X-ray that revealed the presence of nine condoms stuffed with bank notes in the man’s intestines.


He has been charged with laundering drug money and lying to customs authorities.

SIX DRUG LEADERS GANG INCLUDING 2 NIGERIANS BROTHERS JAILED IN UK

A gang of six drug dealers including two Nigerian brothers, Kenechi and Oluchi Ochereobia, who were supplying heroin and crack cocaine between Cardiff, London and Norwich, were on Friday, May 26, handed jail sentences totaling over 42 years, following a proactive investigation by the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command, with support from colleagues from South Wales Police and Norfolk Constabulary.


The Trident investigation was launched in March 2016 as officers became aware of a drugs supply network they believed was operating out of London to supply drugs in and around the Norwich area.
Officers uncovered that the Ochereobia brothers were running a network of drugs couriers out of their respective bases in Cardiff and Hackney in east London. Kenechi was controlling the operation through a central mobile phone number, which he and his brother used to contact hundreds of numbers via text when they had supplies of drugs available.

The brothers would receive orders back, and then instruct others to supply the users in Norwich. Their couriers would then collect the money in exchange for the drugs in Norwich.
Detective Sergeant Paul Harris, from the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command, said:
"This was a complex investigation spanning from Cardiff to Norwich via London. Kenechi Ochereobia tried to hide his involvement in the large-scale supply of drugs in Norwich by pretending to be a legitimate clothes distributor, whilst in reality he was getting younger gang members to run drugs across the country. I would like to thank South Wales Police and Norfolk Constabulary for their support on this operation."

Enquiries revealed that Kenechi was hiring vehicles and was travelling between Cardiff, London and Norwich in the hire cars to facilitate the dealing and oversee operations.
Kenechi was stopped in a hire car and arrested in Norwich in connection with an unrelated matter on 10 June 2016, along with Frankie Dos Santos. Officers also searched a nearby address in Verbana Road the pair had just visited and found Elliot Murawski along with £6,000 in cash hidden inside an oven at the house. Murawski was also arrested but were released from custody whilst enquiries continued.

However, Murawski was stopped and arrested again on 30 August 2016 at Birchanger Services and he was found in possession of approximately £3,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine. Officers were able to demonstrate that Murawski was a key part of the distribution network and was regularly in contact with Kenechi.

Further enquiries led officers to identify Calvyn Green as being linked to the network and he was arrested on 6 September 2016 at Ipswich Railway Station on a London-bound train from Norwich. He was found in possession of almost £2,500 in cash, as well as mobile phones that had been used to communicate with both Kenechi and those he was supplying the drugs to.

Two weeks later, officers stopped and arrested Jaivon Prince at Liverpool Street Station. Prince initially denied having any drugs in his possession, but after officers searched his home address and found wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with a street value of around £20,000; he admitted to having two packets of drugs concealed within his body. Prince was taken to hospital, where hundreds of wraps of heroin and cocaine were recovered, totalling around £2,000.

On 13 October 2016 three simultaneous search warrants were executed at the addresses of Kenechi and Oluchi Ochereobia and Dos Santos in Cardiff and London, and the three were all arrested. Officers found around £23,000 in cash hidden in Kenechi's Cardiff home. Officers found several pictures that showed Kenechi posing with large amounts of cash - proceeds of his drug dealing.
Kenechi tried to make out that he was running a legitimate clothes distribution business, but was unable to provide any tangible evidence of this business that would account for the amount of cash that was both seized and seen in pictures Kenechi posed in.

The six men were all subsequently charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs - namely heroin and crack cocaine.

Murawski and Prince both pleaded guilty to the conspiracy on 17 November 2016 and Friday, 17 March respectively. The other four were all found guilty on Friday, 12 May at Blackfriars Crown Court following a trial. All six were sentenced on Friday, 26 May.

Kenechi Ochereobia, 25 (28.05.91) of Foster Drive, Panylan, Cardiff was charged on 13 October 2016 with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday, 12 May. He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Oluchi Ochereobia, 22 (07.12.94) of Mandeville Street, Hackney was charged on 19 December 2016 with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday, 12 May. He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.


Elliot Murawski, 26 (07.06.90) of Riverside Road, Norwich, was charged on 2 September 2016 with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (in relation to his arrest on 30 August 2016) to which he pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court and was previously sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

Murawski was subsequently charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on 7 November 2016 and pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on 17 November 2016. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Frankie Dos Santos was charged on Monday, 16 January with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday, 12 May. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

Calvyn Senna Green, 25 (29.01.92) of Keyworth Close, Hackney was charged on 10 November 2016 with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday, 12 May. He was sentenced to five years and six months’ imprisonment.
Jaivon Prince, 20 (13.12.96) of Daubney Road, Hackney, was charged on 21 September 2016 with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs to which he pleaded guilty.

He was subsequently charged on 24 October 2016 with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs to which he also pleaded guilty on Friday, 17 March. He was sentenced to six years and four months’ imprisonment.


Source: UKMetropolitan Police UK

UPDATE: TWO NIGERIAN MEN ARRESTED IN CAMBODIA WITH DRUGS IN THEIR STOMACHS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT (PHOTOS)

The two Nigerian men arrested in Cambodia with 1.27 kilograms of cocaine were sentenced on Wednesday, May 24th, to life imprisonment and an approximately $10,000 fine.

Y Rin, a spokesman for the municipal court, said that the sentence for the two men – Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony, 42, and Adibe Paschal, 33 – was based on Article 40 of the Anti-Drug Law.

"Based on the law, the court allows them to appeal the conviction," he said.

Okafor and Adibe were arrested in May 2016 for allegedly smuggling 1.27 kilograms in their stomachs from Nigeria to Vietnam via Dubai and then to Cambodia, where they were arrested.
Authorities suspected that they were bound for Pattaya in Thailand.

Paschal denied knowledge of the drugs and had claimed that he had only gotten to know Anthony at the airport, which the latter corroborated.

Source: PhnomPenPost

NIGERIANS TOP THE LIST OF FOREIGNERS HELD FOR DRUG SMUGGLING IN MUMBAI !

File photo

Nigerian nationals have topped the list of foreigners arrested for drug smuggling in Navi Mumbai over the past five years.

According to the sources from the anti-narcotic cell of Navi Mumbai police, a total of 66 narcotic related cases were registered between 2012 and April, this year in the city. Nigerian nationals were involved in 14 of these cases, the police said.

Since 2012, the police have arrested 14 foreign nationals for smuggling drugs to the city and 13 of them were from Nigeria, while one was from Ghana.

Barely a week ago, the police arrested one Nigerian from Kopar Khairane who had come to sell mephedrone rock and powder. Around 25 gram of the drug in powder form and 85 gram in rock form collectively worth Rs 3.30 lakh was seized from his possession.

As far as foreign nationals are concerned, several Bangladeshis were also arrested in the city in different crimes. But they were mainly into fake currency notes scam, cheating, theft and robbery. None of them were arrested for trading drugs.

Tushar Doshi, deputy commissioner of police (special branch) said, “When it comes to drug smuggling by foreign nationals, by and large all the criminals are from Africa in general and from Nigeria in particular. The number of foreign nationals including those from Africa has also increased in the city over the past two years.”

The police said that these Nigerians work in networks which also operate in other cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Apart from their countrymen, several Indians are also working in those networks.
Maya More, police inspector from the anti-narcotic cell said, “These criminals collect their drugs from people in their networks and then smuggle those to different cities. The biggest problem faced while trying to get details about their business is the language issue. We cannot interrogate them properly after their arrests, as many of them cannot speak proper English or any Indian language.”

Officials from the city special branch told Hindustan Times that presently around 950 foreign nationals from nearly 70 counties are staying in Navi Mumbai and around 50 of them are Africans.

Amit Shellar, police sub-inspector from the anti-narcotic cell said, “Most of the Nigerians arrested for drug smuggling, had come to India on a business visa. Initially, they would export garments from Mumbai to their country. However, when their business would fail, they would trade drugs for easy money.”

According to the crime branch official, such networks are operating in the city through word-of-mouth publicity. “They initially target students from the affluent families and help in forming a habit of taking the drug. Once they create a good number of customers, they keep selling it to them,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.


Hindustan times 

PHOTOS: NDLEA ARRESTS TWO GRANDMOTHER @ LAGOS AIRPORT OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING !

Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled attempts by two grandmothers to smuggle illicit narcotic drugs to New York, United States, and Medina in Saudi Arabia.


The spokesman for the anti-narcotics agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the suspects ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine. The two grandmothers were nabbed during a screening of passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. According to the NDLEA’s spokesman, the grandmothers blamed their attempt at drug trafficking on financial hardship.

A preliminary investigation by NDLEA revealed that this was the first time a grandmother of 60 years ingested a whopping 83 wraps of narcotics. One of the suspects was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. According to an NDLEA officer, the woman’s arrest in Lagos has perhaps saved her from facing the death penalty had she been caught in Saudi Arabia.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, gave the names of the suspected drug traffickers as Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy, aged 60, found to have ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg, and Amodu Ayisat Grace, 59, who swallowed 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grams. Ms. Mercy was headed for New York City whilst Ms. Grace on her way to
Saudi Arabia.

“Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York while Amodu Ayisat Grace was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The cases are under investigation,” said the NDLEA’s Ahmadu Garba.

Ms. Mercy, who owns a small provisions store in Ikorodu, Lagos, reportedly told agents who arrested her that drug trafficking was an afterthought. She also allegedly claimed to be divorced from her husband. An NDLEA source quoted the woman as stating that an old friend of hers pushed her into drug trafficking.

“I am a divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me when I lost my capital due to family problems. It has been my dream to travel to the United States in search of greener pastures. My involvement in drug trafficking was an afterthought,” she reportedly said. The suspect, who hails from Kogi State, added: “My intention when I got my visa last year was to go and work to take care of my needs without being a burden to anyone. Everything changed suddenly when I met an old friend at a party. They took care of my travel expenses and gave me $3,000 with a promise to assist me secure a job in the United States.

“It was [a] few hours to my journey that they brought the drugs for me to swallow. They said that it was my contribution for the kindness and money spent on my trip, but it turned out to be my biggest mistake.”

Amodu Ayisat Grace

NDLEA officers said the other suspect, Ms. Grace, told investigators that, as a Muslim, she was glad to travel to Saudi Arabia. “I was happy when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia, but I never knew it would end in my detention,” she reportedly told NDLEA operatives. The anti-narcotics agency also quoted her as stating, “I sell fufu (cassava flour) to take care of my four children as a widow and this has been very challenging.

“They enticed me with a visit to Saudi Arabia and a handsome reward and I fell for the trick,” she said. The Lagos-born suspect added, “I only swallowed 25 wraps of the drug. Unfortunately I could not get to Saudi Arabia because of my arrest.”

NDLEA chairman/Chief Executive, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (ret.), said that it was shocking and shameful for grandmothers to be involved in drug trafficking.

“This move by drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and shameful. The moral emptiness exhibited by the suspects must be condemned by all. A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their children and grandchildren is highly regrettable,” said Mr. Abdallah.

PHOTOS: TWO BRAZILIANS ARRESTED AT LAGOS AIRPORT WITH ₦310 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE !

Two Brazilians who attempted to smuggle ₦310 million canned cocaine into  Nigeria .have been arrested. The suspects; Dias Dos Santos Marcia Cristina, 36, was found with 9.400kg of cocaine in her bag, while Lima Pereira Erick Diego, 20, was found with 14.465kg of cocaine in his bag.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested the two Brazilian drug suspects over unlawful importation of canned whitish substance that tested positive for cocaine.

The NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju said: “The suspects, who claimed to be tourists were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with the canned cocaine amidst personal effects inside their luggage. The total weight of the cocaine seizure is 23.865kg with an estimated street value of about ₦310 million. Nigeria-Brazil cocaine trafficking route has gained notoriety over the years; but this is the first arrest of Brazilians with cocaine at the Lagos airport. The tins were factory-sealed such that officers had to cut it open to discover the concealed drugs. Several canned drugs had been uncovered at the Lagos airport in the past. This development has not come as a surprise to narcotic investigators because drug cartels are always adopting new strategies of smuggling drugs.”

The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said: “Two Brazilian drug suspects, a male and a female have been arrested with cocaine at the arrival hall of the airport. The arrest took place during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight. The suspects travelled together from Sao Paulo, Brazil. During search operation, a total of 23.865kg of cocaine was found on them.”
The Agency has also concluded arrangement to arraign the suspects in court. Meanwhile, the suspects said that they are in Nigeria to visit several tourist attraction centres.

NDLEA Chairman Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) described narcotic interdiction at the Lagos airport as impressive and commendable.
He stressed that NDLEA Act prohibits  narcotic smuggling and called on nations to intensify the anti-narcotics campaign.
Abdallah said: "This arrest is impressive. It is a clarion call for nations to work harder and deepen collaboration in the fight against narcotics. Collective efforts are required towards making local and international borders impenetrable by drug traffickers and other criminals."

The NDLEA boss, while commending eagle eyed officers that caught the Brazilians, also assured members of the public of diligent prosecution of the suspects.

NIGERIAN WOMAN BAGS LIFE SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN TANZANIA

Edigin Vivian, a Nigerian woman,mother of four, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment in Tanzania after being found guilty of trafficking drugs worth Sh289 million.

According to Daily Post, Justice Aishiel Sumari convicted Vivian of trafficking

797.56 grams of cocaine worth Sh39.8 million, through Kilimanjaro International Airport, KIA.

Vivian said she carried the drugs because life had become too tough for her.

The judge said the prosecution had proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused had 15 capsules filled with cocaine in her luggage, and had swallowed 48 others, which she later passed out.

Justice Sumari said the sentences should serve as a deterrent to others, stressing that drugs were a scourge that was destroying society. He said no effort should be spared in fighting the menace.