Cameroon student sentenced to 8 years in prison for importing drug into the TRNC

A High Court judge in the TRNC have sentenced a Cameroon student to eight years in prison after he was found guilty of importing drugs from Cameroon to the TRNC.

Samuel Nkongho was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment on Tuesday, April, 11 for importing 9.5 kilos of drugs from his home country to the TRNC.

The judge during the sentencing on Tuesday, April, 11 criticized the management of foreign students, many of whom have been enticed by agencies promising students from Africa and other countries jobs while they study.

Judge Soytaç who headed a panel of three judges, stated that the accused had come to the country as a student and imported 9.5 kilograms of cannabis-type drugs via Ercan Airport because he did not have enough money to cover his education. 

“It raises serious questions about the issue, and also points to serious weaknesses in the student admission policy of the State”, the judge said.

Soytaç also stated that importing drugs into North Cyprus, which is claimed to be a ‘university island’, via Ercan Airport raises serious questions in the mind about how well students can be protected.

Pointing out that the accused was detected and caught after he handed over the drugs to the accomplices, not while importing them into the country, Soytaç said, “The fact that such a large amount of drugs can be brought into the country from Ercan Airport in a suitcase without taking any additional measures shows us a picture as grave as the crime committed.

Murat Soytaç said that all parties should act with the awareness of my responsibilities in order not to face such a grave situation in the future.

“In the matter, we find it appropriate to impose a freedom-binding sentence on the accused, taking into account the gravity of the crime committed by the accused, the way the crime was committed, and the high amount of imported drugs. While deciding on the duration of the sentence that binds freedom, after taking into account the gravity of the crime, the large amount of the drug subject to the crime, the fact that the drug type is jute, which is considered the least harmful despite the large amount, and the defendant's positive attitude by accepting his crime, he decided to give 9 kilos in the case. He is sentenced to 8 years in prison for importing 690 milligrams of cannabis-type drugs," the judge said.