
Four drug traffickers have been handed jail sentences totaling 28 years for their involvement in the largest cocaine seizure in Nigeria's history. Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the four men following their roles in the 2022 bust of over 2,139 kilograms of cocaine at a residential estate in Ikorodu, Lagos.
The convicts, including Jamaican national Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, and Nigerian nationals Soji Jubril Oke, 71, Wasiu Akinade, 55, and Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67, were charged with several offenses under case number FHC/L/607C/2022. The charges included conspiracy, drug trafficking, and possession of the illicit drug, among others.
In September 2022, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) coordinated an intelligence-driven raid on a property at 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, which led to the historic seizure of over two tons of cocaine. The suspects were arrested in various locations across Lagos shortly after the raid.
After a thorough two-year trial, the Federal High Court sentenced Smith to four years in prison with hard labor, while Chukwu received 16 years. Oke was sentenced to five years, and Akinade was given three years, all with hard labor. Additionally, the convicts were given varying options to pay fines, with one of the offenders facing a full sentence without an option for bail.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of several assets linked to the drug trafficking ring, including a Toyota Tacoma SUV and substantial sums of money in both U.S. dollars and Nigerian naira, all of which were believed to be derived from the proceeds of the illicit drug trade.
In a related ruling, the NDLEA secured the final forfeiture of two properties tied to the cartel, including the Ikorodu residence where the cocaine was stored. The court authorized the sale or disposal of the properties, with the proceeds to be paid to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA, lauded the efforts of the agency's personnel, emphasizing that the ruling dealt a significant blow to the drug cartels operating in Nigeria. He warned that traffickers not only face jail time but will also lose any ill-gotten wealth and assets connected to their criminal enterprises.
This conviction serves as a landmark case in the fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria, sending a strong message to those involved in the illegal drug trade that they will be held accountable for their actions.




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