Nigerian Busted For Allegedly Trying To Smuggle 15,000 Ecstasy Tablets Into Japan

A Nigerian man has reportedly been arrested by the Kanagawa Prefectural Police for allegedly trying to smuggle about 15,000 tablets of MDMA, or Ecstasy into Japan from Germany.

The suspect, identified as Chinedu Ede Onueke, 26, reportedly concealed about 15,000 tablets of MDMA Molly inside three cardboard boxes that arrived in Japan via mail from Germany in April. The tablets were taped into the sides of the cardboard boxes and the boxes were packed with shoes and clothing, according to Tokyo Reporter.

Onueke was arrested on April 14 and prosecuted in July after he allegedly took custody of one of the boxes addressed to a residence in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo.

“I didn’t import narcotics,” Onueke denied the allegations.

One of the three boxes was addressed to an address in Chiba Prefecture. The busted drugs have a street value of around 75 million yen (about US$688,281), according to the police. The drug bust is reportedly the third biggest on record for the Yokohama Customs.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a Nigerian man named Chris Oh Modebel who lives in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, was arrested in Tokyo for dealing with illegal drugs in the Roppongi entertainment district, Sahara Reporters reported.

On June 2, Modebel allegedly possessed 30.5 grams of cocaine and 0.6 grams of Kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs, found in an electrical meter box for a building in the district, according to the police.

“I know nothing about the matter,” the suspect denied the allegations. However, the police said that Modebel is the leader of a drug-dealing ring composing of Nigerian nationals.

A total of 289 grams of cocaine, 58.2 grams of stimulant drugs, and an unspecified amount of MDMA, or Ecstasy, worth a combined street value of 9.6 million yen (about US$90,000) was reportedly seized by the investigators from the meter box.

In another incident, a 38-year-old Nigerian man named Paschal Nwaenyi was arrested with over 7000 ecstasy pills in his possession in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nwaenyi was arrested after police received information that members of a major foreign drug gang based in Bang Khunthian had rented a house in Tha Kham to store illicit drugs to be sold to patrons of nightspots on Rama II Road, CTN News reported.

When the officers searched the second floor of the building, they reportedly found drugs in plastic bags stuffed into camera boxes. The investigators reportedly seized 7,140 ecstasy pills, two mobile phones, and a Toyota Altis sedan from the suspect.

Nwaenyi was later handed over to the narcotics suppression police station for legal action.