Fugitive drug trafficker working as taxi driver in Ireland

RobYourBuilder

A man who was sentenced to 20 years jail in Italy on drugs trafficking charges has been living in Dublin and working as a taxi driver for almost eight years.

After a major international manhunt, Yemi Moshood Olatunde (47) was picked up by garda officers from the force's extradition unit and he appeared in the High Court yesterday.

He was sentenced for conspiring with other Nigerian nationals in relation to a multi-million euro cocaine trafficking conspiracy 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.

Yesterday Yemi Moshood Olatunde maintained he had been arrested in a case of mistaken identity when gardai detained him on Tuesday.

However, 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 gardai 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.

He also told gardai he no longer lived in Tallaght and that he had an address in the city centre but refused to provide this address. He said Olatunde was a tribal name but not his.

Kieran Kelly BL, for the respondent, argued that the fingerprint and photographic evidence supporting the European Arrest Warrant had not come through the proper channels.

It came from Interpol in Rome and he argued it should have been submitted by or on behalf of the issuing judicial authority - in this case, the Italian public prosecutor.

Department of Justice extradition officer Barry Crossan said at his request, a lieutenant with Interpol in Rome re-transmitted identification material.

Det Garda Frank Doyle of the fingerprint bureau said he compared the prints furnished by Interpol and they matched those of Roy Yemmy Andrew Aro in the Irish database.

The prints given by the "individual in Tallaght Garda Station" were also an exact match for the Interpol prints. Mr Justice Edwards said he was satisfied that the fingerprint evidence was admissible. The judge remanded him in custody to Cloverhill Prison and adjourned the case to tomorrow.

Why are we not vetting non EU citizens who move to the country, ala, The US, Canada, Australia, etc. If you have a drug charge, one would find it difficult to visit America, nevermind move there. In Ireland, drug traffickers on the lam can get in, seemingly with no problems.

Secondly, the Garda Central Vetting Unit in Tipperary have access to Interpol and Europol records. Why didn't they check this mans prints against their records when running his background check for his PSV license? Did they even conduct a check?

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.

Didn't think of running the prints, lads? This is gross incompetence. Are we even bothering our flute to check who is coming to our country and who is driving our taxis?

BoJack Horseman

What did the dept of Justice say when you asked them?

smash

DRUG DEALER IN SECRET IDENTITY SHOCKER!!!!

kneemos

What happens in the end?

Little CuChulainn

There have been a number of cases where people like him, and worse, have been refused a taxi licence and the courts have overruled the decision.

RobYourBuilder

smash wrote: »

DRUG DEALER IN SECRET IDENTITY SHOCKER!!!!

He had been fingerprinted more than once.

You can assume a fake identity. Can't change your fingerprints.

The Backwards Man

Since when are US, Canadian or Australian citizens vetted when travelling from one state to another within the country?

RobYourBuilder

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Since when are US, Canadian or Australian citizens vetted when travelling from one state to another within the country?

The man is not an EU citizen. Non citizens who want to move to the US, Canada, or Australia are vetted.

Guy:Incognito

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

The man is not an EU citizen.

Maybe one of his alias' are?

RobYourBuilder

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Maybe one of his alias' are?

Perhaps. The Garda Central Vetting Unit still should have cross checked his prints with Interpol and Europol when conducting his background check for his PSV licence.

RedemptionZ

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

The man is not an EU citizen. Non citizens who want to move to the US, Canada, or Australia are vetted.

Still, once you're in the US and co. whether or not you're a citizen is irrelevant, you don't have to be vetted to move to different states. Ireland is essentially a state in the EU in terms of travel restrictions.

RobYourBuilder

RedemptionZ wrote: »

Still, once you're in the US and co. whether or not you're a citizen is irrelevant, you don't have to be vetted to move to different states. Ireland is essentially a state in the EU in terms of travel restrictions.

Italy is in the Schengen zone. Ireland is not. Ireland requires Nigerians to apply for a visa before entering the state. Even just for a visit.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Yes,but did you give him a tip OP?

kjbsrah1

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Secondly, the Garda Central Vetting Unit in Tipperary have access to Interpol and Europol records. Why didn't they check this mans prints against their records when running his background check for his PSV license? Did they even conduct a check?

Do applicants for PSV licences have to supply their fingerprints? I was not aware of that.

0byme75341jo28

I love the way you clearly have no agenda against non-EU immigrants, OP.

RobYourBuilder

Colby Thoughtless Stimulus wrote: »

I love the way you clearly have no agenda against non-EU immigrants, OP.

As mad as this may sound, I don't like being in enclosed spaces, such as a taxi, with on the run drug traffickers and would prefer if they were kept out of my country. Crazy, I know.

moxin

Background criminal checks should be carried out on non-EU nationals if possible just like the US and Aus do on EU nationals. Further to this I do believe there should be background checks for criminal convictions within the states of the EU at the port of entry but thats wishful thinking at this stage.

Nomis21

moxin wrote: »

Background criminal checks should be carried out on non-EU nationals if possible just like the US and Aus do on EU nationals. Further to this I do believe there should be background checks for criminal convictions within the states of the EU at the port of entry but thats wishful thinking at this stage.

There were no criminal checks on travellers in Europe before the EU was invented. The idea is "Freedom of movement".

However, Ireland is an island and virtually everyone has to have a passport to enter due to airline regulations. Lists of passengers are shared with intelligence personnel and Ireland should be one of the safest and most protected countries in the World compared to other EU countries with land borders, where travellers can cross without any checks.

Areyouwell

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

What did the dept of Justice say when you asked them?

OP is probably still on hold.

MattD1349

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

You can assume a fake identity. Can't change your fingerprints.

You've obviously never watched Men in Black 😎 (no pun intended)

UCDVet

MattD1349 wrote: »

You've obviously never watched Men in Black 😎 (no pun intended)

According to the internet - they really do this:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/67337/doctor-surgically-altered-deported-aliens-fingerprints-so-they-could-re-enter-us/

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-12/chinese-woman-surgically-switches-fingerprints-evade-japanese-immigation-officers

RobYourBuilder

A mother of six has been arrested at her Dublin home on suspicion of being a fugitive drug importer in Italy, where she is wanted to serve a 20-year sentence imposed in her absence.

Aisha Ahmed (49) was brought before the High Court on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities, who have been looking for the Nigerian native for several years.

It comes just two days after her husband, Yemi Moshood Olatunde, was arrested and brought before the court in similar circumstances.

Both husband and wife claim to have been arrested in cases of mistaken identity. A number of her children were in court to support their mother.

Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told the court that he arrested Ms Ahmed yesterday morning at her home at Sundale Parade, Tallaght.

He said that she had given her name as Gloria Aro and her date of birth as being in December 1967. She supplied an Irish passport to that effect.

She denied being known as Aisha Ahmed or by the alias, Linda, and denied using a date of birth in 1965. She also said she had never been to Italy.

However, D Sgt Kirwan had received a photograph of Ms Ahmed from Interpol in Rome and was satisfied he had the right person. He said that she looked at the photo but said that it wasn’t her.

The detective said he gave her a copy of the European Arrest Warrant, which said that she had the role of ‘promoter, leader and organiser’ in an association that imported, sold, distributed and traded ‘remarkable quantities’ of cocaine in Italy between September 1999 and June 2000.

She was convicted in her absence in 2005 and the Court of Naples later sentenced her to 20 years in prison.

The detective said he took her to Tallaght Garda Station, where she was fingerprinted and that he had confirmed by lunchtime that her prints matched those sent by Interpol in Rome.

The Interpol photograph was handed into the court and Mr John Edwards asked Ms Aisha to remove her hat so he could ‘make judgement’.

Detective Garda Frank Doyle of the Garda Fingerprint Bureau testified that he compared the fingerprints sent by Interpol in the name of Aisha Ahmed with the fingerprints taken from the woman now in court.

“Those fingerprints are from the same person,” he said.

Ann Marie Lawlor BL, for the State, asked the court to be satisfied that the person named in the warrant was the person in court and asked for a notional hearing date.

Kieran Kelly BL, representing Ms Ahmed, said that the fingerprints had come from Italy and that his client said she had never been to Italy. He noted that there was an Irish passport in the name she said was hers.

Mr Justice Edwards said that he was satisfied that Mr Kelly’s client was the person named in the European Arrest Warrant. He said there were conceivable reasons why she might have an Irish passport in another name, including that the document could be in her married name.

“I don’t need to know,” he said. “I have fingerprint evidence, one of the most reliable forms of identification.”

He remanded her in custody to The Dochas Centre until Tuesday November 4th.

Addressing her as Ms Ahmed, he told her that she could voluntarily surrender to the Italian State at any time.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradition-arrest-of-mother-of-six-wanted-to-serve-20-years-in-italy-30691120.html

His wife has been arrested too. She is a naturalised Irish citizen. So, on the run drug traffickers can enter the country, get a PSV licence to drive a taxi and become Irish citizens. Absolutely crazy stuff.

Muckie

Its a shame that the system cant catch these criminals upon their first entry to the country.

Passport and finger printing, also if there is a next time the is a "crack down" on the Taxi service, could the Gardai not notify them, just go out there and finger print these "public servants".

AlekSmart

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradition-arrest-of-mother-of-six-wanted-to-serve-20-years-in-italy-30691120.html

His wife has been arrested too. She is a naturalised Irish citizen. So, on the run drug traffickers can enter the country, get a PSV licence to drive a taxi and become Irish citizens. Absolutely crazy stuff.

Ah now come on RYB,It's not that bad....remember Ireland has a moral obligation to accept as many downtrodden and discriminated against people as possible,particularly those from outside the EU.

Other members of the EU such as France,Germany,Italy and so on tend to be absolutely beastly in their attitude to these poor people,many of whom (like the unfortunate Mrs Ahmed) don't even know who they are...

The poor oul Gardai are run offa their feet trying to help these people remember who they really are,but it's not an easy job,as one might imagine,as they tend to keep their hat's on...even in Court !

It's a sad reflection on how selfish Irish society is becoming when a learned Judge suggests a convicted criminal "Voluntarily" return to the juristiction that convicted them...How dare he !

AlekSmart

Colby Thoughtless Stimulus wrote: »

I love the way you clearly have no agenda against non-EU immigrants, OP.

Whatever "agenda" the Price of Cumberland sees,is I suggest,being set by the likes of this pair of unidentified aliens.

If such folk set out to firstly,decieve,then seek to avail of this (or any) country's hospitality and protection then why the faux-outrage,wailing and gnashing of teeth and cries of "Agenda,Agenda" ?

I,for one,would not be too upset to hear of their departure for parts foreign,but only after Mr Olatunde has surrendered his plate !! :eek:

cerastes

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradition-arrest-of-mother-of-six-wanted-to-serve-20-years-in-italy-30691120.html

His wife has been arrested too. She is a naturalised Irish citizen. So, on the run drug traffickers can enter the country, get a PSV licence to drive a taxi and become Irish citizens. Absolutely crazy stuff.

Its a joke this cant be sorted at the time of entry.
Hopefull they get sent back to Italy to do their time, 20years each, thats terrible. There is no reason why they should serve their time here, they obviously skipped the country where they were convicted, they could only have lied since they got here.

RobYourBuilder

AlekSmart wrote: »

Whatever "agenda" the Price of Cumberland sees,is I suggest,being set by the likes of this pair of unidentified aliens.

If such folk set out to firstly,decieve,then seek to avail of this (or any) country's hospitality and protection then why the faux-outrage,wailing and gnashing of teeth and cries of "Agenda,Agenda" ?

I,for one,would not be too upset to hear of their departure for parts foreign,but only after Mr Olatunde has surrendered his plate !! :eek:

It's like the Rotterham thread all over again. Deflect, deflect, deflect.

Anyway. I wonder what will happen to the six kids when the parents get extradited back to Italy?

MattD1349

ok that's me all told. I had no idea that it was possible to alter fingerprints. Questions have to be asked at how these people could live & work here despite the man at least having come to garda attention before. Is it any wonder nigerian criminals see us as a soft touch?

AlekSmart

MattD1349 wrote: »

ok that's me all told. I had no idea that it was possible to alter fingerprints. Questions have to be asked at how these people could live & work here despite the man at least having come to garda attention before. Is it any wonder Nigerian criminals see us as a soft touch?

Now now !....You risk being asked for links to prove this ...or perhaps proof that you actually know such a person...and less of the "asking questions" stuff as well......;)

AlekSmart

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

It's like the Rotterham thread all over again. Deflect, deflect, deflect.

Anyway. I wonder what will happen to the six kids when the parents get extradited back to Italy?

That will be an interesting point for sure.....perhaps the citizenship of the children will be of relevance in the case ?

20 years sound s a VERY harsh sentence by Irish standards (:rolleyes:) and there may be a Constitutional element in all of this also....However,I suspect those Legalities will be FULLY teased out over the coming weeks,months,sorry,Years

cerastes

The woman is now an Irish national? does this not come with having particulars checked, Id have thought a 20 year prison sentence would be something that would stand out, so is everything taken on good faith and they just hand out passports?

RobYourBuilder

cerastes wrote: »

The woman is now an Irish national? does this not come with having particulars checked, Id have thought a 20 year prison sentence would be something that would stand out, so is everything taken on good faith and they just hand out passports?

Under her alias, yep;

He said that she had given her name as Gloria Aro and her date of birth as being in December 1967. She supplied an Irish passport to that effect.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradition-arrest-of-mother-of-six-wanted-to-serve-20-years-in-italy-30691120.html

cerastes

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Under her alias, yep;



http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradition-arrest-of-mother-of-six-wanted-to-serve-20-years-in-italy-30691120.html

Hang on a sec, if that was obtained under a false name, surely she and her husbands status here should be under question, and her passport here not legitimately obtained, if that doesnt undermine the outcome of the decision to offer a passport or other legal document, sure what the hell.

RobYourBuilder

cerastes wrote: »

Hang on a sec, if that was obtained under a false name, surely she and her husbands status here should be under question, and her passport here not legitimately obtained, if that doesnt undermine the outcome of the decision to offer a passport or other legal document, sure what the hell.

If the Minister deems it necessary, she can revoke her citizenship.

—(1) The Minister may revoke a certificate of naturalisation if he/she is satisfied—

(a) that the issue of the certificate was procured by fraud, misrepresentation whether innocent or fraudulent, or concealment of material facts or circumstances, or

(b) that the person to whom it was granted has, by any overt act, shown himself to have failed in his duty of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, or

(c) that (except in the case of a certificate of naturalisation which is issued to a person of Irish descent or associations) the person to whom it is granted has been ordinarily resident outside Ireland (otherwise than in the public service) for a continuous period of seven years and without reasonable excuse has not during that period registered annually in the prescribed manner his name and a declaration of his intention to retain Irish citizenship with an Irish diplomatic mission or consular office or with the Minister, or

(d) that the person to whom it is granted is also, under the law of a country at war with the State, a citizen of that country, or

(e) that the person to whom it is granted has by any voluntary act other than marriage acquired another citizenship.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1956/en/act/pub/0026/sec0019.html

cerastes

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

If the Minister deems it necessary, she can revoke her citizenship.



http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1956/en/act/pub/0026/sec0019.html

Revoke it, I'd hope so, I was going to come back and suggest it couldn't have ever been valid at all or ever as that was what I was suggesting in the last post.

RobYourBuilder

cerastes wrote: »

Revoke it, I'd hope so, I was going to come back and suggest it couldn't have ever been valid at all or ever as that was what I was suggesting in the last post.

Minister Fitzgerald has already spoken about potentially revoking citizenship off of the 30 odd Irish citizens who joined up with Islamic groups in Syria and Iraq. Be interesting to see what she does with these drug traffickers.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jihadi-fighters-risk-losing-their-irish-passports-30527620.html

biko

It's not the first time a criminal flees to some "blue eyed do goodest" country.
Canada and Sweden has found Rwandan war criminals in their countries.

The question is how many more war criminals are hiding in various western countries.
Kill thousands, seek "asylum" (don't forget to toss your passport before you arrive) in another country and lead a happy life with minimal risk of getting captured.

daRobot

He'd have had a fair few tales to tell on a long journey, wouldn't have minded hearing them.

But for him to become 'known' to the Gardai again while living here, while on run and dodging a 20 year stretch, is unfathomably stupid.

RobYourBuilder

biko wrote: »

It's not the first time a criminal flees to some "blue eyed do goodest" country.
Canada and Sweden has found Rwandan war criminals in their countries.

Do you have a link to these cases? Not doubting you, just curious.