Airline passenger, 50, appears in court after being caught smuggling 83,000 cigarettes into Newcastle
Airline passenger, 50, appears in court after being caught smuggling 83,000 cigarettes worth £28,000 on a plane from Nigeria to Newcastle
- Samuel Onyemenam, 50, filled two suitcases with 83,600 smuggled cigarettes
- He was arrested and has since pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading duty
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An airline passenger was caught red-handed trying to smuggle more than 83,000 cigarettes into Newcastle International Airport.
Samuel Onyemenam, 50, was stopped while carrying luggage when he entered the country on a flight from Nigeria via Germany last November.
Border Force agents X-rayed three of the cases and found that two of them were filled with 83,600 cigarettes, which would have carried £28,000.
Onyemenam, from Abbey Wood, London, was arrested and pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading duty when he appeared in the dock this week.
Samuel Onyemenam, 50, (pictured) was stopped by Border Force while carrying luggage as he entered the country on a flight from Nigeria via Germany. Officers x-rayed three of the suitcases and found two of them filled with 83,600 cigarettes, which would have raised £28,000 in tax
Onyemenam arrived at Newcastle International Airport (pictured) on November 26 last year on a flight from Nigeria via Germany. He claimed to have transported the cigarettes for his cousin and had not benefited financially from the scheme
Onyemenam arrived at Newcastle International Airport on November 26 last year on a flight from Nigeria via Germany, the Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.
“He had three suitcases with him,” said Rob Lawson, prosecutor. “Border Force agents told him they were going to x-ray his briefcases and two briefcases contained a large quantity of cigarettes, 83,600. The evaded tax amounted to £28,530.17.”
Onyemenam claimed that he transported the cigarettes for his cousin and did not gain any financial benefit from the scheme.
Defensively, Paul Kennedy said Onyemenam, who has no prior convictions, stood by his claim that he was transporting for his cousin and making no financial gain.
Mr. Kennedy continued, “It was an opportunistic, one-off offense.”
However, the claims were not accepted by District Judge Jayne Bryan, who told Onyemenam, “I don’t accept what you say at face value.”
Onyemenam, from Abbey Wood, London, was arrested and pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading duty when he appeared in the dock this week
The judge continued, “You will have to testify to what you claim. It is what we call a trial and it will decide on what basis you will be convicted.
“You will be granted unconditional bail to return to this court on that date and time. If you don’t come, an arrest warrant may be issued against you.’
Onyemenam is due back in court on May 3.
MailOnline has approached the airport and HM Revenue & Customs for comment.