KARACHI, Nov 12: Seven drug traffickers, five of them Africans, were convicted on Tuesday by the special anti-narcotics court, headed by Judge Ali Nawaz Pirzada.

The Africans, who included two women, had concealed different quantities of contraband heroin, stuffed into well-insulated capsules, in their body cavities.

They all were intercepted by the Customs drug enforcement staff at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport where they were to board international flights.

The African drug traffickers were sent to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where they excreted different quantities of drug-filled capsules.

Ms Sinethemba Innocentia Nokwe, a South African woman, who had hidden 450 gram heroin, stuffed into 40 capsules, was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two and a half years with a fine of Rs50,000. She would have to undergo an additional three months’ RI if she failed to pay the fine.

Mrs Yanka Ademeso, hailing from Guinea, who had concealed 500 gram heroin (41 capsules), was also given an identical sentence.

A Nigerian man, Celment Mgbakogu, was sentenced to three and a half years’ RI with a fine of Rs50,000. He would have to undergo an additional three months’ RI in case of default on the payment of fine.

Israel Sky Willson, arrested for carrying 650 gram contraband drugs in 47 capsules, was sentenced to a three-year term with a fine of Rs50,000. He would have to undergo an additional three-month term in case of default on the payment of fine.

Okali Need Iroegbu, prosecuted for carrying 1.25kg heroin, stuffed into 73 capsules, was sentenced to six years’ RI with a fine of Rs100,000. He would have to undergo an additional six-month term in case of default on the payment of fine.

Mohammed Kamal, a Bengali-speaking young man, was sentenced eight years’ RI for attempting to smuggle out 2kg heroin.

The drug trafficker, who had hidden the contraband drug in his luggage, was also fined Rs100,000. He would have to undergo an additional six-month term if he failed to pay the fine.

Another Pakistani, Abdul Faisal, was sentenced to six and a half years’ RI for carrying 1.4kg heroin in his luggage with a fine of Rs100,000.

He would have to undergo an additional six-month term if he failed to pay the fine.

BAIL GRANTED: The judicial magistrate, South, Zulfiqar Kumboh, granted bail to the Town Nazim of UC-9, Sharif Awan, in the sum of Rs50,000.