Mystery shrouds Drug smuggler’s death

Three days after an alleged Nigerian drug smuggler died at a city hospital, the Customs authorities are clueless about what caused his death.

Samuel Nwogbo was detained by the Customs on April 6 for concealing cocaine capsules in his rectum. Officials are now waiting for the post mortem report which will reveal the exact cause of his death.

On Tuesday, Customs authorities, through J. J. Marg police, conducted an inquest panchnama, which is a step taken before conducting a post mortem. The Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Customs detained Nwogbo at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport after his arrival by Emirates flight number EK-504 from Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The Customs authorities intercepted him on suspicion and conducted a computed tomography scan on his body when they noticed capsule like substances in his rectum.

He was admitted to the JJ Hospital because he refused to eat anything that would make him eject the capsules naturally.

On Friday, doctors at JJ Hospital conducted a surgery on Nwogbo. Though the surgery resulted in the recovery of 40 capsules containing 675 gm cocaine worth Rs 68 lakh, Nwgobo remained unconscious till Sunday when he died.

The delay in post-mortem could be trouble for Customs officials, as they are required to submit a report on Nwogbo’s death to the Esplanade court on Wednesday. “If we don’t get the post-mortem report by Wednesday, we will seek more time,” a Customs official said requesting anonymity.

Officials said Nwogbo’s death is a set back for the investigation as the department won’t be able to reach those who were to collect the drugs from him and distribute them further. “His interrogation could have led us to the chain of the drug cartel,” the official said.