An Indian court has sentenced two Nigerian nationals and three other individuals to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in a drug case involving the seizure of 150 grammes of methamphetamine in 2023.
The Additional District and Sessions Court-I in Kasaragod, Kerala, convicted the five defendants while acquitting a fourth accused, identified as Sooraj.
The Nigerians sentenced were Hafsa Rihanath Usman, also known as Blessing Joy, 25, and Ukka Moses, 41. The other convicts were Aboobacker, 38, his wife, Amina Ashra, 35, both residents of Chattanchal in Kasaragod, and Waseem Akram, 35, from Bengaluru.
Judge T. H. Rajitha sentenced Aboobacker, Amina Ashra, Usman and Moses to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each and imposed a fine of 200,000 rupees on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional six months of imprisonment.
Akram was sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for each of two offences and fined a total of 400,000 rupees. The court ordered that both sentences run concurrently. Failure to pay the fines will attract an additional six months of imprisonment for each offence.
The case originated on April 21, 2023, when police recovered 150 grammes of methamphetamine during a vehicle search at Pallam in Uduma. The drug was found in the underwear of Aboobacker and on the dashboard of the vehicle. Four people travelling in the car were subsequently arrested.
Following the arrests, a special investigation team led by the then Deputy Superintendent of Police, C. K. Sunil Kumar, was established to investigate the case and identify other individuals allegedly involved in the drug supply network.
Investigators examined the suspects’ mobile phones and discovered WhatsApp conversations and call records allegedly linking them to drug suppliers in Bengaluru. Further inquiries led the team to the two Nigerian nationals, who were subsequently arrested in Bengaluru.
The investigation established that the Nigerians had entered India on student visas but remained in Bengaluru after their visas expired. They were allegedly involved in the manufacture and distribution of drugs through a network operating in Bengaluru and Delhi.
Investigators also found that Aboobacker and Moses had been involved in narcotics cases in Bengaluru.
The two Nigerian nationals have remained in judicial custody since 2023.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 22 witnesses and presented 149 documents and eight material exhibits in support of its case. The then Bekal Circle Inspector, U. Vipin, completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet.
Additional Public Prosecutor Lohithakshan Idayillam and advocate Athira Balan represented the prosecution in the case.
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