Fugitive drug smuggler jailed for over five years
30-year-old takes helm at influential business institution
AWANTED man who is still on the run for his part in a global drug smuggling ring has been jailed in his absence.
John Arinze Nwosu, from Edgbaston, was found guilty for his part in importing drugs into the country while using WhatsApp, Yahoo messenger and Skype.
The National Crime Agency began looking into Nwosu, 47, and his associates Ajah Onuchukwu, 42, from Enfield, London, and Patrick Udensi, 39, also from Enfield, in 2013, when cocaine was found in a parcel that had been sent from St Martens in the Caribbean to a North London address.
Investigators linked Onuchukwu and his gang to at least 77 drug parcels that had been intercepted by Border Force, across 14 different addresses, between June 2008 and August 2014.
They organised the transport of at least 4.8 kilos of cocaine and 210 kilos of cannabis over the time they were operating – worth an estimated £1.8 million if sold on the streets of the UK.
The group utilised online messaging services to communicate with drug distributors in Africa, Asia and South America, advising them where to send the parcels.
Nwosu was found guilty of importing class B drugs but absconded before his trial.
He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison in his absence and remains wanted by the NCA.
After his arrest, Onuchukwu fled the UK in 2015 while on bail but was captured on a European Arrest Warrant in the Netherlands in 2018 and extradited to the UK a year later.
Onuchukwu appeared before Isleworth Crown Court last December, where he was found guilty of three charges relating to attempting to import both Class A and B drugs.
He was sentenced at the same court last Friday, where he received a jail term of 11 years.
Udensi, 39, who was believed to be the leader of the group and was sentenced to 14 years for conspiracy to import class A and B drugs.
Ian Truby, from the NCA’s Heathrow border investigation team, said: “The seizures we identified probably only cover a fraction of what this group managed to bring into the country.
“Organised crime groups have been known to exploit infrastructure like the post and fast parcel system to bring illicit commodities into the UK, and cause further exploitation and harm to communities.
“Working with partners, we were able to successfully track Onuchukwu and secure his return to the UK to face justice.
“This has been a long-running investigation, but it is not over yet. One of these men still remains wanted.
“We would appeal to anyone who thinks they may have information on John Arinze Nwosu to contact the NCA directly on 0370 496 7622 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”
BIRMINGHAM Chamber of Commerce has appointed the youngest chief executive it has had in its 208-year history.
Henrietta Brealey will take the helm at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) after Paul Faulkner steps down next month to join the Richardson property empire.
Ms Brealey, aged 30, was recently appointed chief strategy officer following five years as director of policy and strategic relations.
Ms Brealey said: “Paul has been a fantastic CEO of the Chamber and ambassador for the business community. He leaves big shoes to fill and I look forward to stepping up in April and continuing to drive the organisation, and the support and services we deliver for businesses, ever further forwards.
“It’s been 12 months like no other. In this critical moment, I look forward to continuing to work with our members and partners across the sectors to both stand up for local businesses’ interests through challenge and change and ensure that they are best positioned to tap into opportunities – locally and globally.
“I love this city region and working with the businesses that sit at the heart of what makes it such as great place to live, work and do business.
“It will be a real privilege to lead our talented colleagues here at Team Chamber.
“This is a proud institution with a long and influential history of being in business for local businesses. I am excited to take up this opportunity to navigate it through this next era.”
Ms Brealey joined the Chamber as a policy assistant in 2012 while completing her studies at the University of Birmingham.
She went on to gain an MSc (Distinction) in Public Management 2012-2013 and a BA (Hons) (1st Class) in English Literature 20092012.
She held the roles of policy adviser and policy and patron adviser before leaving in 2015 to join the National
Housing Federation as external affairs manager for the West Midlands.
She returned to the Chamber later that year in the newly-created role of director of policy and strategic relationships, making her one of the youngest directors in the Chamber’s history.
In 2018 she was appointed to the GBCC board as an executive director and earlier this year she was named chief strategy officer.
In 2019 she was named in the ‘Brum 30 Under 30’ bright young business stars list, run by the Post’s sister website, BirminghamLive.
She is a trustee of the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students and a graduate and supporter of the UpRising Leadership Programme.
GBCC president Steve Allen said: “This is a richly deserved appointment for Henrietta. She has led the way in providing Chamber support for businesses in her position as chief strategy officer and policy director before that.
“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, she has ensured that informing, practically supporting and giving local businesses a voice are first and foremost in our work.
“While some of that has been very visible, much more negotiation and engagement with stakeholders has taken place behind the scenes.
“I know her approach to really listening too, and caring about, the needs of our members and building trusted relationships with stakeholders make her the perfect person to lead the organisation moving forwards.”
Mr Faulkner added: “Henrietta has been a delight to work with throughout my time at the Chamber, and it has been a pleasure seeing her professional growth and development over the past six years as she has led and transformed the Chamber’s policy and strategic partnerships work to be the very best in the country.
“Henrietta possesses a genuine passion for, and commitment to, Chamber members and the interests
of the business community in Greater Birmingham. I wish her every success in what is a highly-respected and historic position in the city and wider region.”