A Mount Gambier man has been discovered responsible of importing greater than 500 grams of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of heroin into Australia.
Key factors:
- Henry Okechukwu Nwaulu, 39 imported three packages containing medication
- The packages have been addressed models close to his dwelling, utilizing variations of his Islamic identify
- He shall be sentenced at a later date
Nigerian citizen Henry Okechukwu Nwaulu, 39, stood in Mount Gambier District Court docket at this time, whereas a jury declared him responsible of three counts of importing a marketable amount of a managed drug.
Nwaulu ordered three packages, two in November 2021 containing methamphetamine and one in December 2021 containing heroin.
The packages have been addressed to models neighbouring Nwaulu’s dwelling on Kurrajong Avenue, Mount Gambier, and to variations of the identify Danial Fausi Nwaulu, the identify given to him upon his conversion to Islam in 2015.
Prosecutors mentioned using the names Daniel Fauzi, Daniel Faziri and Daniel Fausi was a “half-hearted” effort to hide his identification.
Australian Border Pressure (ABF) officers found the primary package deal of methamphetamine inside a vacuum-sealed flask included in a cargo of child garments, whereas the second was inside two books.
Each have been despatched from South Africa.
The heroin was found in an amplifier system in a package deal from Laos.
In the course of the trial, an SA Police medication knowledgeable mentioned the road worth of the methamphetamine was between $463,000 and $895,000, relying how the medication have been reduce forward of sale.
The worth of the heroin was given as between $980,000 and $4 million.
Australia Submit calls recorded
ABF brokers searched Nwaulu’s home and arrested him on February 9, 2022, the place they seized telephones that have been linked to the packages.
Pictures and movies of medication being dealt with have been discovered on the telephones, in addition to screenshots of consignment updates for the parcels seized.
Cellphone numbers linked to Nwaulu have been additionally used to name FedEx, the courier firm for one of many parcels containing methamphetamine
One other quantity was used to name Australia Submit on two events in December 2021, to investigate concerning the third package deal with heroin inside
Each calls recorded and performed in court docket.
Nwaulu’s lawyer Carrie Demertzis argued the prosecution’s case relied solely on circumstantial proof that did not conclusively show her shopper’s guilt.
She mentioned her shoppers actions, reminiscent of collaborating in a prolonged interview with ABF officers earlier than being arrested, have been inconsistent with somebody who was concerned with importing unlawful medication.
Decide Michael Durrant revoked Nwaulu’s bail forward of his sentencing at a later date.
