India-bound drug trafficker who vomited, excreted cocaine gets 25 years’ imprisonment  

Three months after vomiting and excreting eighty 80 wraps of cocaine after his arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, has been sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court.

Ogbonna was arrested on March 31 while attempting to board flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian passport, bearing the name, Carr Bismark.

He was taken for body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs. Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort.

Choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.

The suspect was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually brought out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.

The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.

He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos for committing an offence contrary to section 20(1)(b) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004.

Delivering his judgement on the case on Monday July 1, 2024, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without an option of fine.

In a statement, the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said, “The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for a fast and diligent handling of the case.

“He added that the judiciary remains a strong pillar in the coordinated and concerted effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

“He said Ogbonna’s conviction will send a strong signal to his ilk that there will be no hiding place for drug barons and their mules.”