Igwebuike Indicted in Heroin Case

Minnesota Vikings place-kicker Donald Igwebuike was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges he schemed to smuggle heroin from his native Nigeria.

Igwebuike was charged with conspiracy to import, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and the importation of heroin.

Igwebuike’s name was linked to the case two weeks ago when ABC News reported that prosecutors in Tampa had “irrefutable” evidence connecting the place-kicker to an attempt to smuggle heroin into the United States from Nigeria.

Igwebuike was charged on three counts of a four-count indictment that also named Maduwuba Ibekwe and Ibezim Ofedu, who already had been arrested in the case.

Ibekwe was arrested Oct. 12 at Orlando International Airport where a personal search by a U.S. Customs Service inspector allegedly resulted in the discovery of three pellets containing heroin.

Igwebuike’s lawyer has said the football player is a victim of circumstantial evidence, which reportedly includes a plane ticket Igwebuike bought for Ibekwe and taped telephone conversations between the men.

Lawyer Larry Reed said Igwebuike simply wanted Ibekwe to rush $12,000 to his parents in Anambra, Nigeria. Reed said the kicker’s parents received the money.

Custom agents searched Igwebuike’s Bloomington, Minn., apartment the day after the ABC report and reportedly seized telephone records and other personal papers.

Igwebuike has been one of the most accurate and consistent place-kickers in the NFL during his career. He spent five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 416 points.

Bucs Coach Ray Perkins released him just before the start of this season, saying rookie Steve Christie has a stronger leg and had the potential to become a better kicker. Minnesota claimed Igwebuike off waivers, and he has made 14 of 16 field goals since joining the Vikings.

Ironically, one of the missed attempts was a 48-yarder that would have beaten Tampa Bay in overtime Sept. 30.