A 50-year-old Nigerian man, Samuel Onyemenam, has been arrested by the police in the U.K. for trying to smuggle more than 83,000 cigarettes into the country.
He was intercepted at Newcastle International Airport after he flew in from Nigeria via Germany, Daily Mail reports.
According to the reports, officers from Border Force X-rayed three of his suitcases and found that two of them were filled with cigarettes, which Newcastle Magistrates’ Court said would have carried duty worth £28,000.
Onyemenam, of Chantry Close, in Abbey Wood, London, pleaded guilty to illegally evading duty when he appeared in court last week, Daily Mail said on Monday, 20th March, 2023.
He claimed the cigarettes were for his cousin and that he had made no financial proceed from the scheme, but his claims were not accepted by District Judge, Jayne Bryan.
Bryan said Mr. Onyemenam have to give evidence about what he’s claiming, which he added is called “A trial of issue and it will decide on what basis you will be sentenced on”.
The case has been adjourned until May 3, 2023, and the accused will have unconditional bail to return to the court on that date.
Story: Asma’u Sani