The Special Court for Essential Commodities (EC) Act cases in Coimbatore, India, has sentenced a Nigerian national, James alias Emmanuel Chukwunonso Samson, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in an international drug smuggling network intercepted more than a decade ago.

According to The Hindu Bureau, the conviction arose from a case filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after its Chennai Zonal Unit intercepted three suspicious parcels at a courier office in Chennai on July 17, 2012. Acting on specific intelligence, NCB officials opened the parcels and found heroin concealed within ladies’ handbags, car gasket packaging, and embroidery items.

“The parcels were destined for foreign countries, including West Africa, Australia and Spain,” the NCB said in a statement.

According to the agency, the seizure yielded 1.195 kilograms of heroin and 200 grams of methaqualone, a sedative-hypnotic drug. Investigators estimated the international market value of the narcotics at over ?2 crore (about N338,290,760).

Following the interception, NCB arrested James in Erode and recovered four kilograms of ganja from him. “The investigation established that the accused had arranged to smuggle narcotic drugs abroad through courier services and had sourced ganja from Namakkal district for the illicit trade,” the statement added.

The trial, which was conducted at the Special Court for EC Act cases in Coimbatore, concluded with the judgment delivered on September 20. James was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of ?1 lakh.

The NCB, while confirming the conviction, urged the public to support its anti-narcotics drive. “Information related to the sale, transport or trade of narcotics can be shared through the national helpline ‘MANAS’ – 1933. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential,” the agency said. (The Guardian)