Nigerian Drug Baron Arrested In Ireland After 14 Years Manhunt

                                
A Nigerian drug baron, Yemi Moshood Olatunde, who has been on the run for 14 years after he jumped bail in Italy, has been finally arrested in the Republic of Ireland. The 47-years-old drug trafficker who was initially sentenced to a 20-year jail term in the year 2000, was said to have fled to Dublin where he has been living and working as a taxi driver while still organising drug heists.

After a major international manhunt, Olatunde was picked up by garda officers from the force’s extradition unit and appeared in the High Court last week

He was sentenced for running a multi-million euro cocaine trafficking ring in Naples almost 14 years ago.

But while he has been one of Italy’s most wanted fugitives, he has been living in Tallaght under a false name and operating a taxi business as well as raising a young family.

Though Olatunde maintained he had been arrested in a case of mistaken identity when he was detained, the High Court ruled that fingerprint evidence shows he is the man being sought by Italian authorities. Olatunde’s lawyers had argued that the evidence sent by Interpol was inadmissible.

However Mr Justice John Edwards remanded him in custody pending full extradition proceedings after officials gave evidence that his prints were an exact match for the man named on the European Extardition Warrant.

Gardai told the court that Olatunde, of Sundale Parade, Tallaght, Dublin had been living under a number of different aliases in Ireland.

Det Sgt Sean Fallon told the interlocutory hearing that when he was arrested at 12.25pm at Tallaght Garda Station, the respondent insisted he was Roy Yemmy Andrew Aro. His prints were taken and they matched those of Olatunde.

The court heard the respondent had been in Ireland for eight years and had significant interactions with the gardai. He had been fingerprinted more than once.

The respondent was adamant he was not Olatunde and had a driving licence and PSV licence under the name of Roy Yemmy Andrew Aro.