Cocaine – Photo Credit: DEA

By Lovemore Khomo

The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court has fined a Nigerian national K350,000, for possessing cocaine.

According to Lilongwe Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Foster Benjamin, the Nigerian identified as Chinoso Ekoh, 34, was convicted of the crime he had committed in Area 49 Gulliver on 25 May this year.

“The court heard that Lilongwe Police detectives were tipped that Ekoh wanted to sell the drugs to someone else. When he got to the place at about 12:00 p.m., he was immediately ambushed by the officers but he managed to escape to his nearby house.” said Benjamin.

Benjamin continued that, police detectives followed him into the house where they found two blisters of cocaine weighing 0.367 grams.

“Ekoh pleaded guilty in court on Friday June 2, 2023 and asked for leniency because he didn’t know what he was doing. However, State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Mary Jonas prayed for a stiffer punishment and later deport him back to his home country because he was a threat to the Malawian society.” Said Benjamin

Benjamin said having considered these arguments, the Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe noted that drug-related cases are on the increase in the country, mostly perpetrated by the Nigerians.

“Michongwe went ahead ordering Ekoh to pay a fine of K350,000 or in default serve 18 months in jail. He also ordered that Ekoh be deported back to his home country after serving his sentence.” Added Benjamin Meanwhile, as we were publishing this story, Ekoh, who comes from Ibo State in Nigeria, was yet to pay the fine.

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