A US. court has sentenced Oluwole Adegboruwa, a 54-year-old Nigerian residing in the United States, alongside his accomplice Enrique Isong, to a combined 40 years in prison for orchestrating a sophisticated drug trafficking operation on the dark web.
The sentencing, which took place on December 20th, 2024, marks a significant victory in the fight against international drug trafficking.
Adegboruwa, described as the mastermind behind the operation, received a 30-year sentence with lifetime supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit over $20 million, one of the largest forfeitures ever recorded by the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. Judge Jill N. Parish, who presided over the case, emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, "The scale and complexity of this operation demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and public safety."
From October 2016 to May 2019, Adegboruwa sold more than 300,000 oxycodone pills through various dark web platforms, generating approximately $9.1 million in profits. His operation involved multiple individuals tasked with procuring, packaging, and distributing the narcotics across the United States. During the trial, Adegboruwa admitted to controlling sales and managing the financial accounts, including cryptocurrency transactions, which were used to conceal the illicit proceeds.
Enrique Isong, aged 49, was sentenced to ten years in prison with an additional three years of supervised release. The investigation, which led to their conviction, was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and IRS Criminal Investigation. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins remarked, "Protecting the community from illicit drugs and dismantling drug trafficking operations is a priority for my office and our law enforcement partners."
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