Two men from South
East London have been jailed for 24 years each for their part in
money laundering and drug trafficking criminal activities.
John Obidegwu and Ike Johnson were sentenced at Croydon Crown
Court to eight years each for money laundering offences and 24
years each for drug trafficking offences, to run concurrently.
Martin Brown, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HM
Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said:
“HMRC investigators were able to connect Obidegwu and Johnson to
these crimes and prove their involvement in criminal activities
worth millions of pounds. These sentences make it clear to those
tempted to launder money, or get involved in the illegal drugs
trade, that they are taking a serious risk. I would encourage
anyone with information relating to this type of crime to call our
24-hour Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000 and help us to stamp it out.”
HMRC investigation officers uncovered the extent of Obidegwu
& Johnson’s life of crime, when Obidegwu was the
proprietor of a hairdresser’s called ‘New Dimensions’ in Deptford,
which also operated a Western Union money transfer franchise.
Examination of records for the franchise identified links to
Obidegwu and payments being made to South America and Nigeria.
Officers arrested Obidegwu on 23 July 2009 who had £20,000 in £20
notes on him at the time of his arrest. In raids carried out on
several properties in South East London, officers seized almost
seven kilos of cocaine still wrapped in swallower packages, a
large quantity of the drug cutting agent, phenacetin, at a flat
controlled by Obidegwu. They also seized a total of £150,000, - .
€113,000 in €500 notes, along with £12,000 in sterling at
Obidegwu’s home address.
Records found during the searches and further investigation
identified Johnson as a facilitator of the drug importations and
linked him to laundering millions of pounds.
On 24 November 2009 Johnson was arrested. The court heard that
the men would arrange for couriers to bring the drugs into the UK,
mainly from Amsterdam and then sell the drugs on to dealers.
The trial commenced on 27 September 2010 at Croydon Crown Court.
Johnson pleaded guilty to the money laundering offences on 27
September 2010. On 18 th October 2010 Obidegwu was found guilty
on all counts (of money laundering and drug trafficking) and
Johnson was found guilty of the drug trafficking offence.
On the day of sentencing, His Honour Judge Flahive commended the
officers who conducted the investigation.
Confiscation proceedings have been instigated to recover proceeds
of these crimes for the public purse.
Notes to Editors
1. John Chukwuma Obidegwu (DOB 15.06.1956), born in Nigeria, was
a British citizen of 28 Martock Court, Peckham was sentenced to a
total of 56 years. He was found guilty on four counts of money
laundering contrary to Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002 and was
sentenced to eight years for these charges. He was found guilty on
a charge of importation of a controlled drug contrary to Customs
& Excise Management Act (CEMA) 1979 S170 over a two and a
half year period and sentenced to 24 years for this charge. He was
also found guilty on one charge of importing the 7 kilos found and
possession of the cocaine with intent to supply and sentenced to
24 years for this charge. The sentences given are to run concurrently.
2. Ike Johnson (DOB 31.12.1971), born in Nigeria, a German
citizen of 5 Buckingham Apartments, 173 Elmers Inn Road,
Beckingham, was sentenced to a total of 32 years. He pleaded
guilty to four counts of money laundering contrary to POCA 2002
and was sentenced to eight years for these charges. He was found
guilty to one charge of importation of a controlled drug contrary
to CEMA 1979 S170, and sentenced to 24 years for this charge. The
sentences given are to run concurrently.
3. Anyone with information relating to this type of crime is
urged to call our 24-hour Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.
4. Confiscation proceedings have been instigated to recover
proceeds of these crimes for the public purse
5. Photos are available.
NAT 52/10
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press
Office
Press enquiries only please contact:
Contacts:
HMRC Out of Hours
Phone: 07860 359544
NDS.HMRC@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Jonathan Hall
Phone: 020 7147 0052
jonathan.hall@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Georgina Myles
Phone: 07748 931504
georgina.myles@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Bob Gaiger
Phone: 01404 811532
bob.gaiger@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk