Nigerian drug peddler denied bail

 

Bangalore: The High Court has rejected the bail plea of Chigozie, a 42-year-old Nigerian, accused of peddling narcotic drugs, especially cocaine.

 

The accused, who has been lodged in jail for over ten months, had approa­ched the court seeking bail. He has been charged with grave offences under Sec 21(C) and 22 of NDPS Act and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

 

The court was told that Chigozie and another prime accused were selling cocaine, apart from indulging in illegal trafficking of narcotic substances.

 

The prime accused was apprehended near Cauvery Theatre on Bellary Road and he was found in possession of around 114 gm of cocaine, along with 14 ecstasy tablets, small plastic covers and mobile phones valued over Rs 1,24,490. The visa of the two accused had lapsed, but they continued to stay in the country illegally.

 

An advocate for the petitioner argued, “The investigating agency has not complied with the mandatory requirements under the provisions of NDPS Act at the time of arresting the accused and seizing the narcotic substance. The FSL report, though indicates the drug is positive, the concentration of narcotic substance in the seized material does not attract punishment beyond six months. The accused he should be released on bail."

 

The prosecution said that though the narcotic substance was seized from the prime accused, the drug was being peddled with the active assistance of Chigozie, who was subsequently arrested from his house. “The material on record also reveals that the prime accused has violated the terms of the visa,” the prosecution argued. 

 

The court while rejecting the bail cited that a prima facie case had been made out against the accused.