Mangaluru: The principal district and sessions court on Saturday sentenced five individuals, including a South Sudan national, to 12 to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for illegal possession and consumption of narcotics.The court found Louis Daniel Justin Boulo alias Danny,25, a resident of Gunjur Palya, Varthur, Bengaluru, and a native of the Republic of South Sudan; Mahammad Rameez, 24, Uppala; Mohiddeen Rasheed, 24, Kunnil, Shiriya; Abdul Ravoof alias Tough Rovoof,35, Mulinja, Uppala (three from Kasaragod district of Kerala); and Sabitha alias Chinchu,25, a resident of Madiwala, Bengaluru, and a native of Thooratti village in Ooty, guilty under the sections of the NDPS Act on Dec 1.Public prosecutor Judith OM Crasta said that judge Basavaraj entenced Louis Daniel Justin Boulo, Mohiddeen Rasheed, and Sabitha to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a penalty of Rs 1.3 lakh on each. The court sentenced Mahammad Rameez to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh. Meanwhile, Abdul Ravoof was sentenced to 13 years of rigorous imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 1.4 lakh.Further, all five accused were also sentenced to six months of rigorous imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 10,000 each for the consumption of narcotic substances. The court also ordered the confiscation of a car involved in the transportation of drugs, the public prosecutor said.A police team led by SI Pradeep TR intercepted a car near Padil on June 15, 2022, based on a tip-off about the illegal transportation of drugs that inspector Mahesh Prasad received. Upon searching, police found over 135g of methamphetamine from the accused. Louis Daniel Justin Boulo supplied the drugs to Mahammad Rameez. Meanwhile, medical examinations proved the five accused consumed drugs.Mangaluru CEN crime police registered a case under Sections 21, 21(C), and 27(b) of the NDPS Act. Subsequently, inspector Sathish MP conducted an investigation and submitted a chargesheet to the court.The public prosecutor said that the South Sudan national was overstaying in India even after his student visa expired in May 2019. While Rameez has two cases under the NDPS Act pending against him, Ravoof is also a habitual offender facing a similar case. The court did not grant bail to Boulo and Rameez. Meanwhile, Rasheed, Ravoof and Sabitha were arrested and sent to judicial custody after the verdict. The court examined 24 witnesses and marked 172 documents.
