JOHN P. GILBRIDE, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York has announced that EMMANUEL ORUCHE and his right-hand man, JOSEPH OLUIGBO were convicted in Manhattan federal court on charges of conspiracy to import heroin into the United States and to distribute heroin or possess heroin with intent to distribute it on June 25, 2008. The verdict followed a six-day jury trial before United States District Judge WILLIAM H. PAULEY III. According to the evidence at trial:

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The Oruche Organization, based in New York and Detroit, was involved in the importation and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of heroin. The Organization arranged for the importation of heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan -- through various countries including Turkey and Nigeria – into the United States using couriers, then distributed the heroin to various locations in the United States, including New York, Michigan, and Ohio. Some couriers carried heroin in the lining of bags, including one who attempted to smuggle almost 3 kilograms of heroin in the lining of his suitcase and briefcase. He flew from Entebbe, Uganda, through London, England, to Newark International Airport, and was arrested at the airport by Customs and Border Protection. Others carried the heroin internally, including a woman arrested in JFK airport after flying from Istanbul, Turkey, with approximately 871.4 grams of heroin contained in 84 pellets she had swallowed, and an additional quantity of heroin in a body cavity. ORUCHE and OLUIGBO are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge PAULEY on September 28, 2008. ORUCHE faces a maximum prison term of life and a mandatory minimum term of 20 years in prison; OLUIGBO faces a maximum prison term of life and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison.

The convictions were a part of “Operation Hidden Web,” a joint investigation conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Offices in New York – Group D-24, Istanbul, Turkey, Lagos, Nigeria, and Detroit, Michigan. Mr. GARCIA praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the DEA and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorneys MICHAEL M. ROSENSAFT and VIRGINIA CHAVEZ ROMANO are in charge of the prosecution.

 

 

 

 

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