50-yr-old Nigerian man arrested for trying to sm¥ggle over 83k cigar£ttes into the U.K.

A Nigerian man, Samuel Onyemenam, has been arrested by the police in the U.K. for trying to sm¥ggle more than 83,000 cigar£ttes into the country.

The 50-year-old 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 cigar£ttes.

Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard a total of 83,600 cigarettes were found, which would have carried duty worth £28,000.

Onyemenam, of Chantry Close, in Abbey Wood, London, was arrested and pleaded guilty to illegally evading duty when he appeared in court last week, Daily Mail said on Monday, March 20.

Samuel 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, “I don’t accept what you’re saying at face value.

“You’re going to have to give evidence about what you’re claiming. It’s what we call a trial of issue and it will decide on what basis you will be sentenced on.

“I’m going to adjourn your case until 3 May back at this court. You will have unconditional bail to return to this court on that date and time. If you don’t attend, a warrant could be issued for your arrest.”

📷: NCJMedia Syndication