Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Drug trafficking: US-based Nigerian bag 40 years jail term

POSTED ON December 20, 2024 •   BREAKING NEWS      BY Benedicta Bassey
Photo illustration of a man in prison

UNITED STATES —  A US court has found a Nigerian US-based man, Oluwole Adegboruwa, 54 alongside his accomplice, Enrique Isong, 49, guilty of a multi-million dollar drug trafficking operation, and has sentenced them to a combined 40 years in jail term.

This was disclosed in a statement on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah.

While Adegboruwa was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment, he was also ordered supervised release for life and the forfeiture of over $20 million.

The $20 million forfeiture is among the largest forfeitures holding a defendant financially accountable for his crimes in the history of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.

The sentence was pronounced after a jury found Adegboruwa and his co-defendant Isong, guilty in May 2024 of multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and money laundering.

On October 23, 2024, Isong was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, evidence presented at trial, and statements made at Adegboruwa’s sentencing hearing, from October 2016 through May 2019, Adegboruwa, sold more than 300,000 oxycodone pills on dark web marketplaces to customers throughout the United States.

The jury found that Adegboruwa organized and supervised a continuing criminal enterprise that earned approximately $9,112,471 in drug proceeds.

The jury found that Adegboruwa was unquestionably in charge of the illicit narcotics operation. Each member of his enterprise served in different capacities.

At trial, Adegboruwa admitted that he controlled sales on the dark web markets and the monetary accounts, including the cryptocurrency accounts through which the enterprise received the bulk of its profits.

Adegboruwa also admitted he was the one who decided to start his online dark web drug sales operation.

U.S Attorney Trina Higgins of the District of Utah said, “Protecting the community from illicit drugs and dismantling drug trafficking operations is a priority for my office and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to prosecute and seek justice for these crimes.”

“This case further demonstrates that true anonymity on the dark web is a myth,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Services State Phoenix Division Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson.

“U.S. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in their commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations, ensuring the safety of USPS customers and employees alike.”

“Adegboruwa’s criminal drug enterprise was complex, sophisticated, and generated millions of dollars in profits concealed in cryptocurrency transactions. This sentencing is a stark reminder that the DEA is relentless in the pursuit of justice, and that drug traffickers cannot hide their illicit activities even in the secretive expanses of the dark web,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.

“Money laundering continues to be a top investigative priority for IRS-CI,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office.

 “The forfeiture amount in this case alone highlights the magnitude of the investigation conducted by IRS-CI special agents, its impact on our community, and IRS-CI’s relentless commitment to uncovering illegal schemes by following the money.”

The case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

READ ALSO
South-West Demands Five New States and Constitutional Recognition for Traditional Rulers in Ongoing Constitutional Review
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

The demand for the establishment of five new states, the recognition of traditional rulers in the co...

READ ALSO
Federal High Court Orders Reinstatement of  Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Calls Suspension "Excessive"
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

A Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that the Nigerian Senate exceeded its authority by sus...

READ ALSO
Calls for Autopsy: Ondo Govt. Faces Pressure to Exhume Late Governor Akeredolu's Body
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

The Ondo State Government may need to exhume the body of the late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, f...

READ ALSO
Tinubu to Discuss Sustainable Governance at BRICS Summit in Rio
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 29, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on Saturday for the first leg of his two-p...

READ ALSO
Reps Launches Committee to Review CNG Policy Implementation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

The House of Representatives has formed an ad-hoc committee tasked with examining the Federal Govern...

READ ALSO
Nigeria Takes Bold Step towards Energy Independence with Naira-Based Crude Sales Initiative
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 25, 2025 0

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, alongside the Federal Government’s One-Stop-Sho...

READ ALSO
IPMAN Links Rising Petrol Prices to Crude Oil Costs and Market Dynamics
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 24, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - The Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Associati...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Launches National Mechanised Farming Programme to Tackle Food Insecurity
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 23, 2025 0

In a bid to combat food insecurity and encourage youth participation in farming, President Bola Tinu...

OUR CHANNELS:

Ex-D’Tigers coach Brown sets goals for new job
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The former head coach of the Nigerian men's national basketball team, D'Tigers,Mike Brown,has s...


U.S. Reduces Visa Duration for Nigerians to Three Months
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

The U.S. Department of State has changed its five-year visa policy for Nigerians applying for non-im...


JAMB Sets 2024 Cut-Off Marks for Tertiary Institutions
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

The Joint Admissions Matriculation Board announced the admission cut-off marks for universities, pol...


Federal Government Launches Exclusive Passport Office for Senior Officials
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The federal government on Tuesday, inaugurated a new passport front office in Abuja...


African Democratic Congress Claims Government Coercion to Weaken Opposition Coalition
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of ta...


FG Urges Judiciary to Strengthen Capital Market for Economic Growth
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

The Federal Government has called on the judiciary to take a proactive role in strengthening the cap...


Reinventing Nigeria’s Fiscal Framework: A Call for Unity and Responsibility
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized his government's dedication to allocating sufficient resources...


CBN Mandates Capital Restoration Plans for Banks: A Step Towards Regulatory Compliance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The Central Bank of Nigeria has instructed banks to provide a capital restoration plan as part of it...


Nigeria Faces Teacher Shortage: Over 31 Million Learners Rely on Just 915,913 Educators
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

According to data from the Universal Basic Education, only 915,913 teachers are available for at lea...


Tinubu Calls for Equitable Global Framework at BRICS Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 10, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has advocated for a more equitable global framework regarding climate action,...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu