Nigerian drug smuggler get 3-year jail term

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang District Court sentenced a Nigerian on Friday to three years in jail and fined him Rp 3 million (US$447) for attempting to smuggle 1.6 kilograms of heroin into the country.

Presiding judge Syamsul Hadi said Victor Chukwuka Onyezia, 45, was guilty of attempting to smuggle the drug on Nov. 26 last year through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Syamsul said Onyezia was detained by immigration officers when he arrived at the airport on flight TG 413 from Bangkok.

Immigration officers were alerted by his suspicious behavior, he said.

During a search, the officers found the drug stuffed in his underpants.

Witnessed by Onyezia, the officers the tested substance and identified it as pure heroin, he said.

Tests by the police forensics laboratory showed the same results, he said.

Syamsul said Onyezia was guilty violating of Article 81 (1) of Law 22/1997 on Narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

"The defendant's crime could damage the young generation. Nothing could mitigate the sentence," he added.

Onyezia, who burst into tears upon hearing the verdict, asked the court through his interpreter for a reduction in the sentence.

His lawyer is considering whether to appeal the judge's decision.

The verdict met the demand of prosecutor Asnawi.

On June 29, a Thai woman was indicted at the same court for attempting to smuggle 4.25 kilograms of heroin through Soekarno- Hatta International Airport.

Suphaporn Panluang, 32, was arrested with heroin hidden in her luggage upon arrival on flight TG 433 from Bangkok on Feb. 17. (41/jun)