A NIGERIAN pastor has been arrested at Victoria Falls International Airport after being found in possession of more than two kilogrammes of cocaine stuffed in hats and jackets with a street value of $126 752 000.
Desmond Onyii Onuoha (46) of Ruwa Paschoal 484 590
Paulo-Brazil or Number 22 Samuel Eknola street Lagos in Nigeria.
He appeared before regional magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube
facing drug trafficking and possession charges following his arrest on 23
October.
The court heard that on 22 October 2022, detectives from
the Drugs and Narcotics Victoria Falls received information to the effect that
Onuoha was travelling from Brazil via Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia using a Nigerian
passport number B50060514 on-board an Ethiopian Airways ET0829 and was
suspected to be carrying drugs with him to Victoria Falls.
The following day at around 11.30am a team of detectives
proceeded to Victoria Falls International Airport where they acquired a
passenger manifest for the incoming aeroplanes and established that Onuoha was
on the list. Around 12.30pm, the detectives identified Onuoha and observed him
as he went through the check-in process. He checked in using a Ghanaian
passport number G0559957. Detectives intercepted him and took him to the
Victoria Falls Police Post.
A thorough search was conducted resulting in the recovery
of white gel substance wrapped in cellotapes which was stashed in the linings
of hats and jackets. A preliminary drug test conducted in Onuoha’s presence
tested positive for cocaine leading to his arrest. The recovered drugs were
taken to Victoria Falls Post Office where they were weighed in the presence of
accused.
The total weight was 2 330 grammes with a street value of
$126 752 000.
Onuoha who is being represented by a Mrs Khumalo of Ncube
and Partners denied the charge arguing that he did not know the contents of the
bag found with the cocaine but had been asked to drop it in Victoria Falls by
one of his congregants. Taking the witness stand during the opening of the
defence case, Onuoha claimed he was married to a Zimbabwean woman and had come
into the country to pay lobola for her.
“I’m a pastor in Nigeria and so I announced in church that
I was travelling to Zimbabwe to see my mother-in-law for paying lobola in
Bulawayo. I have been legally married to her since February of this year. One
of my congregants then approached me and asked me to drop a bag for someone at
Victoria Falls Airport since I had indicated that I would pass through there to
see a friend. I don’t know anything about the bag especially its contents let
alone the mentioned drugs. I was surprised when the police searched the bags
and found drugs,” said Onuoha.
A copy of a marriage certificate produced by the defence
was opposed from being tendered as evidence to the said marriage as the
prosecution argued they were not furnished with it. In addition, the State led
by Mr Vusumizi Mangena argued that they could not accept its admission on the
basis that it was not certified as presented by the defence. Judgement is set
to be passed tomorrow.
A number of tourists have been arrested at the resort city
while trying to smuggle dangerous drugs at the airport this year. Chronicle
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