CANBERRA: The Special Court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Essential Commodities (EC) Act here on Wednesday convicted a Nigerian and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment after he was found guilty of trying to smuggle heroin to Australia.
Judge Justin David also slapped a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on Michael Odinika (31). Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) of the Special Court Renuka Thomas said that Michael stayed at Pallipalayam in Namakkal district. In January 2012, he tried to send two parcels to Australia and Holland from Erode.
Suspicious staff at the courier office informed Narcotics Control Bureau personnel, who inquired and came to know that he was smuggling the banned substance. He tried to send 193 g heroin hidden in a handbag to Australia and 195 g of a similar substance in a Chinese lantern to Holland.
He was booked under Sections 8(c), 20B, 28 and 29 of the NDPS Act and was found guilty under all the sections.
It could not be confirmed that the consignment to Holland was heroin and the substance has been sent for advanced testing for confirmation and to take up the case further.
However, charges were proved that he tried to smuggle heroin to Australia.
The SPP said that the judge awarded imprisonment of seven years each under the four sections, which are to be served concurrently.
The judge also stated that his imprisonment would be extended by three more years if he failed to pay the fine.
