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HCCC 155/2025
[2025] HKCFI 4421
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
CRIMINAL CASE NO 155 OF 2025
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HKSAR |
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Ozoike Kelechi John |
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| Before: |
Hon Andrew Chan J |
| Date: |
28 July 2025 at 9.52 am |
| Present: |
Mr Raymond Chan, SPP of the Department of Justice, for HKSAR |
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Ms Patricia Elisa Alva, instructed by Raymond C P Lo & Co, assigned by DLA, for the accused |
| Offence: |
Trafficking in a dangerous drug (販運危險藥物) |
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Transcript of the Audio Recording
of the Sentence in the above Case
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COURT: The defendant has pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, contrary to section 4 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and is committed to this court for sentence.
On 10 December 2023, the defendant arrived Hong Kong on a flight from Ethiopia. He was refused entry into Hong Kong. Suspecting internal concealment, the defendant was sent for medical examination. 59 pellets of cocaine were discharged from his body in hospital. The total quantity was 854 grammes.
In a subsequent video-recorded interview, the defendant admitted that he was promised a reward of US$1,500 if he were successful in delivering the drugs in question.
The street value of the cocaine was estimated to be over HK$900,000.
The defendant is 43, educated up to P4 level. Prior to his arrest, he ran a second-hand goods business trading primarily in electronic goods in Nigeria. The defendant is married with a son.
Starting point for trafficking in 854 grammes of cocaine based on quantity alone is one of 17 years and 3 months’ imprisonment. The defendant acted as a courier bringing drugs across countries and continents into Hong Kong. International trafficking was involved.
The modus operandi involved the ingestion of drug pellets prior to departure and as such, the plan to bring drugs into Hong Kong was more elaborate. As such his culpability should be beyond a courier, say for example, delivering drugs in the streets of Hong Kong. Therefore, the criminality should be enhanced to reflect that fact. An additional 1 year would be added.
The only mitigation factor in this case is the defendant’s earliest plea. For that he is entitled to the full one‑third discount.
In conclusion, for the offence the defendant stands convicted, he is therefore sentenced to 12 years and 2 months’ imprisonment.
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I/we certify that to the best of my/our ability and skill, the foregoing is a true transcript of the audio recording of the above proceedings 
......................................... Bruce Jericho Fuellas Torres Date: 7 August 2025 |
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