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John Okoro, the Nigerian drug convict, who fled from police custody in India last Monday, has been re-arrested. Okoro was re-arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai police.
ANC sources told The Times of India that Okoro, 35, was arrested from the Navi Mumbai area, from where he was planning to flee to Mangalore by a private bus.
Police source said Okoro, who resided in Koparkhairane in Navi Mumbai, was arrested in 2014 in a drug case. He served a three-year jail term and was sent to Nashik central prison after conviction.
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Okoro, 35, had sought permission to step out of the detention room on the first floor of the agency’s Azad Maidan office around 2 a m, saying he wanted to use the toilet, and then jumped from the balcony. He crashed through the asbestos roof and fled on foot.
The constable guarding him also leaped from the balcony in a desperate attempt to nab him, but ended up injured. He is recovering at the Nagpada police hospital.
The Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Azad Maidan office is barely 15 feet from the local police station. The office shares a wall with the police’s station detection room. The Esplanade court is in the same compound.
“Around 2 am, Okoro told the constable on guard that he wanted to visit the washroom. He was being taken there when he jumped from the balcony. He landed on the asbestos roof, which immediately gave away,” a police officer said.
“He ran in the directions of Mahapalika Marg.”
A manhunt was launched to capture him.