Nigerian trafficker detained for recruiting S'porean
women as drug couriers
Posted: 20 August 2009 1424 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Nigerian man who is a member of an
international West African drug syndicate has been detained under
the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act for recruiting
Singaporean women as drug couriers.
A statement from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said Thursday
that 31-year-old Okemawalan Ugo Buchi, who is also known as
"Malik", "Michael" and "Ugo", was arrested on July 1 together with
his accomplice, a Singaporean woman.
His accomplice was also detained for her involvement in drug
trafficking activities with the syndicate.
Investigations showed that Okemawalan would court Singaporean women
at nightspots at Clarke Quay and coffeeshops in Bencoolen
area.
CNB said he would live off his girlfriends, and then offer them
high-paying jobs to deliver bags of clothing samples which actually
contain drugs to China and Europe.
The girlfriends would be paid between US$500 and US$1500 for each
trip, depending on the destination.
The Singaporean women would start out with drug runs to nearby
countries, and move on to further places in Europe and Latin
America.
CNB said that between December 2008 and March 2009, Okemawalan had
organised at least 10 drug runs using his girlfriends as drug
couriers.
According to CNB, Okemawalan was an organiser of the drug
syndicate, which has other West African members based in countries
such as China, Nigeria, Spain, Greece, Guyana, Puerto Rico and
Brazil.
- CNA/yb