Sunday, January 8, 2017

Drug trafficking: Nigerian jumps from balcony to avoid deportation

A suspected Nigerian drug peddler, John Okoro, has left anti-narcotic agents in Indian reeling in shock on Monday after he jumped off the balcony of his detention room in order to avoid being deported to Nigeria.

Okoro, 35, was said to have taken the daring jump just hours from being deported to Nigeria. He was being held at the Anti-Narcotics Cell’s custody in Azad Maidan before his brazen escape. The escape occurred around 2am and left agents stunned.
According to the agents, Okoro said he needed to answer the call of nature and was allowed to step out of the detention room, which was on the first floor of a two-storey building.
 He pretended to be heading towards the direction of the toilet, but suddenly swerved and dived off the balcony.
According to the Mumbai Mirror, he crashed through the asbestos roof and fled on foot.

The constable, who was guarding him, frantic to ensure Okoro doesn’t escape, jumped after him. The guard is presenting struggling to stay alive at the Nagpada Police Hospital.

The Mumbai Mirror states: “The Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Azad Maidan office is barely 15 feet from the local police station. The office shares a wall with the police’s station detection room. The Esplanade court is in the same compound. An alert has been issued for Okoro, who was convicted for trying to selling banned substances in 2014 and recently completed his jail term.”

The report further stated that before Okoro’s conviction, he lived in Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai. After his prison sentence ended, he was placed under the ANC’s custody on December 31 and he was due to be deported on Monday afternoon.

A police officer said:  “Around 2am, Okoro told the constable on guard that he wanted to visit the washroom. He was being taken there when he jumped from the balcony. He landed on the asbestos roof, which immediately gave away. He ran in the directions of Mahapalika Marg.”

Another officer said a manhunt had been launched and the Anti-Narcotics Cell had asked informers to be on the lookout. Okoro was wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and slippers. Fresh charges, stemming from his daring escape have been registered at the Azad Maidan police again.

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