A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for possessing 120 grams of cocaine and living in India without a valid visa or permit.
Special NDPS Judge Shail Jain handed down the jail term to 35-year-old Okoye Jhonbosco Uchenna, a native of Nigeria, and also imposed a fine of Rs 1.15 lakh on him while holding him guilty of offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Foreigners Act.
“The convict has been convicted for the offence punishable under NDPS Act, 1985 as he was found in conscious possession of 120 grams of cocaine, coupled with the fact that he was staying in India without having valid visa/permit, hence he is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 12 years…” the judge said.
According to prosecution, crime branch of Delhi Police acted on a tip-off and conducted a raid which led to the arrest of Uchenna, who was found possessing 120 grams cocaine on December 5, 2012 near Delhi University north campus here.
He was also found living in India without a valid visa/ permit and was arrested for the offences punishable under provisions of the NDPS Act and Foreigners Act. His visa had expired in June 2012.
Seeking leniency from the court, the convict’s counsel contended that the Nigerian was the sole bread earner of his family and has already remained in custody since his arrest in December 2012.
( Source – PTI )
