A Nigerian national, Emmanuel Chukwunonso Samson, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by a special court in Coimbatore, India, for drug trafficking offences.
The case dates back to July 2012 when India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chennai unit, intercepted three suspicious parcels at a courier office. Upon inspection, authorities discovered 1.195 kilograms of heroin and 200 grams of methaqualone—banned narcotics worth over ₹2 crore (over ₦200 million) in the international market.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Samson, who was 40 years old at the time of sentencing. He was found to be residing illegally in the Erode area of Tamil Nadu state. When officials searched his residence, they discovered an additional four kilograms of ganja (Indian hemp).
According to Indian authorities, Samson had been using courier services to send drugs abroad, making him part of a larger international drug trafficking network. He was arrested by NCB personnel in September 2012 and has been in custody since then.
The case was tried under India’s stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Essential Commodities (EC) Act at a special court in Coimbatore.
On Saturday, the presiding judge, Justice Rajalingam, found Samson guilty of trafficking multiple banned substances and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh (about ₦1.6 million) on the convict.
Drug trafficking is a serious offence in India and attracts heavy penalties, including long-term imprisonment. The NDPS Act provides strict punishment for anyone involved in the production, transport, or distribution of illegal drugs.
This case is one of several involving foreign nationals arrested in India for similar offences in recent years. Indian security agencies have stepped up efforts to crack down on international drug networks using the country as a transit or distribution hub.
Back home, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been battling a rise in drug trafficking and abuse, especially among youths. The case of Samson highlights the international nature of the drug problem and the need for strong cooperation between nations.
Samson has the right to appeal the court’s decision, but as of press time, there has been no confirmation from his legal team.
