CANBERRA: Australian authorities have arrested two Nigerians for allegedly importing over 40 kilograms of methamphetamine, inside bar fridges and Jackie Chan-branded DVD players into the country.
Chibuike Anyasor, 33, and Joe Iwuchukwu Odemegwo, 51, were arrested on Thursday afternoon by officers from Taskforce Icarus, a joint operation between the AFP, Border Force and Victoria Police tackling the importation of drugs by post and other methods. The pair appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.
Ansayor, described by police as a key figure in the drug importation syndicate, was charged with importing and attempting to possess methamphetamine. Odemegwo was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. If found guilty they face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
According to the police, the duo were under investigation for six months and extensive telephone intercepts during that time had been obtained by the force. Many of the intercepted calls were all in the Igbo language, predominantly spoken by people in the south-east of Nigeria.
The court was told there were only two accredited Igbo translators in Australia and that both of them were living in Adelaide, on students visas, which meant they could only work for 20 hours a week. The two men were remanded into custody until a committal mention on December 11.
