The sessions court on Friday convicted British national Barry David Hulse and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment after he was arrested and charged under the NDPS Act in 2010 for transporting around 75,100 diazepam tablets — a Schedule H prescription drug.
In the order, Judge A.G. Bilolikar observed that the accused was charged with Section 22 (c) and Section 28 read with Section 23 of the NDPS Act and sentenced him to 10 years jail on each count. In addition, the accused has been fined `1 lakh on each count, failing which he would have to serve two additional years each.
In January 2007, Hulse had posted three parcels, declaring to contain incense sticks, magic boxes, T-shirts, etc., from Goa to his sister, brother and himself in the UK.
The postal appraising section in Mumbai, while examining the parcels, found 751 grams or around 75,100 diazepam tablets, which is much higher than the permissible quantity and can be obtained only on a medical practitioner’s prescription.
Special public prosecutor, Arun Gupte told The Asian Age, “In 2008, the postal section then referred the matter to the assistant drug controller, which asked Hulse whether he had the permission to procure the psychotropic substance in such quantities and as he failed to respond, a notice was issued against him.”
Hulse was then detained in November 2009 at the arrival hall of Dabholim Airport in Goa on his arrival from the UK. He was later arrested and brought to Mumbai, where he admitted that the signature and handwriting on the declaration form were his, but refused to having sent the parcels.
A complaint was subsequently filed against him in 2010 and on the basis of evidence, the sessions court convicted him on Friday.