45-year-old Koyode Lawrence of Nigeria pled guilty to running a drug smuggling scheme. He used students from his home country to transport heroin into the U.S.
It is likely that Lawrence’s scheme began in the late 1990s or early 2000s. He reportedly recruited college students with dual U.S./Nigeria citizenship to transport the drugs. Lawrence was finally arrested when, in February 2001, two students working for him were caught with packets of heroin at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The two individuals had reportedly attempted to swallow the packets when confronted by authorities, according to KHOU-TV Houston.
Koyode fought extradition to the U.S. until 2013, when he was finally brought to Houston.
“The defendant was born in Nigeria and has no legal status in the United States,” court documents obtained by Breitbart Texas said. “An immigration detainer has been lodged against him.”
According to Charles Gladden, Koyode’s attorney, his client had never actually been in the U.S. prior to being extradited.
“He’s never been in the United States before,” Gladden said before Judge Nancy Atlas. “He was brought here for the first time to address these charges.”
Reports state that the 45-year-old pled guilty to conspiracy to import a controlled substance. According to court documents obtained by Breitbart Texas, Koyode is currently in custody and could ultimately spend life behind bars.
Koyode Detention Conference by BreitbartTexas
Koyode Conference by BreitbartTexas
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate
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