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An Indian court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Christian Arinze, to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of trafficking illegal drugs into the country.
According to information released by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Arinze was convicted alongside his accomplice, Hanchabila John, by a court in Ahmedabad.
The anti-narcotics agency disclosed on Wednesday that John was initially arrested on September 3, 2021, after arriving at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on a flight from Dubai.
During a search conducted by operatives of the bureau at the airport, authorities reportedly discovered approximately 2.75 kilograms of heroin in his possession.
The arrest subsequently led investigators to Arinze, who was linked to the drug trafficking operation.
Following the investigation and trial, the Special Court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances cases in Ahmedabad found both men guilty and sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 on each of the convicts.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the bureau confirmed the judgment.
“The Additional District and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, has sentenced Hanchabila John, a Zambian national, and Christian Arinze, a Nigerian national, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 2 lakh each,” the agency stated.
“The case relates to the seizure of 2.757 kilograms of heroin at Ahmedabad Airport in September 2021, which led to the arrest of the two convicts,” it added.
The bureau further encouraged members of the public to report suspected drug-related activities through the MANAS helpline, assuring that the identities of informants would be kept confidential.
