A district court on Tuesday awarded an 18-year jail term to three foreign nationals who were held from Greater Noida’s Dadri for allegedly smuggling drugs in 2013.
Additional District and Session Court judge Shaila gave the verdict after an almost six-year-old hearing in the case.
Manufacturing unit
The three accused from Nigeria — Tunni Okolo, Navavufo Pattick and Imko Wike — were arrested on June 9, 2013, for allegedly manufacturing heroin in a house in Sector Omicron 3. The accused were nabbed with illegal drugs, including heroin.
Manoj Tewatiya, the government counsel in the case, said Dadri police had arrested the trio with 1 kg of heroin along and 5 kg diazepam.
“The trio were living in Greater Noida even after their tourist visa expired years ago. They could not produce their passports either. They were not given bail as a result and have been in jail for the last 5 years,” said Mr. Tewatiya.
Fine imposed
He said eight witnesses were produced in the case.
Mr. Tewatiya said more than five year after the accused were arrested, the court gave them an 18-year term under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for smuggling drugs, along with four years for running a heroin manufacturing unit and one-year imprisonment under the Passport Act.
“The court also imposed ₹4 lakh fine on each of the accused,” he added.
