Nigerian citizen bags long jail terms over dark web drug trafficking in US
Oluwole Adegboruwa, a Nigerian citizen residing in the United States, and his accomplice, Enrique Isong, have received a combined 40-year prison sentence for operating a dark web drug trafficking network across multiple US states.
The US District Court, District of Utah, sentenced Adegboruwa to 30 years in November 2024, while Isong was sentenced to 10 years in October.
In addition to imprisonment, Adegboruwa was ordered to forfeit over $20 million, one of the largest financial penalties in the history of the District of Utah’s Attorney’s Office.
Adegboruwa orchestrated a large-scale operation involving the sale and distribution of over 300,000 oxycodone pills between October 2016 and May 2019.
The operation generated $9.1 million in proceeds. Acting as the mastermind, he controlled dark web marketplaces, instructed associates on packaging and distribution, and coordinated sales across the country.
The US Attorney’s Office detailed that Adegboruwa was convicted of multiple federal offenses, including conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and money laundering. His accomplice, Isong, was also convicted on related charges.
“The sentencing reflects the seriousness of the crime and the devastating impact of opioid trafficking,” the court stated. Judge Jill N. Parish imposed the sentences, emphasizing the severity of Adegboruwa’s role in the operation.
