A NIGERIAN businessman who flew to Hongkong with more than 11 kilograms of heroin mixture concealed in his knapsacks was yesterday sentenced to 24 years' jail by the High Court.
A jury found Edward Wilson Ubamaka, 28, guilty of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
Passing sentence, Deputy Judge Chan said he suspected Ubamaka was not just a courier, as had been suggested by his defence counsel.
But he said even if Ubamaka was purely a courier, it did not mean his role in the offence could be considered minor.
The court heard evidence called by Crown counsel Mr Alan Lucas that Ubamaka arrived at Kai Tak Airport at about 8 am on December 11, 1991.
He presented three knapsacks for customs inspection and drugs were found inside vacuum flasks, sheets, shirts, packets of tea leaves and stamp pads.
A total of 11.197 kilograms of a mixture containing just over 5.5 kg of esters of morphine was found.