Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an importer of electronics, Achebe Chuks David, on his way to Hong Kong, for ingesting cocaine.
Another suspect, Ndukwe Daniel, who lives in Athens, Greece, was also apprehended in connection with unlawful possession of wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine.
The arrests were made at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong and Egypt Airline flight to Athens respectively.
Preliminary investigation suggested that the suspects had targeted the Christmas holiday to smuggle cocaine out of the country, but NDLEA officials at the Lagos airport were able to uncover their plan.
The total weight of cocaine seized from the suspects was 1.150 kilogrammes.
According to the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport Ahmadu Garba, Achebe, 37, excreted 45 wraps of cocaine he ingested, weighing 935 grammes, while Ndukwe, 43, excreted five wraps of cocaine weighing 215 grammes. “Both suspects tested positive for narcotic ingestion and while under observation, they expelled wraps of cocaine, which they had wanted to smuggle out of the country. The suspects are currently under investigation,” Ahmadu stated.
The high expectations of both suspects, of making quick money this festive season from drug trafficking, had been dashed by vigilant anti-narcotic officers.
Achebe said that he was expecting N5 million from his cocaine partners.
In his words, “I sell electronics at Alaba market. This is my first time of dealing in drugs. My friend in Hong Kong introduced me to cocaine smuggling. He sent the drug to me at Alaba through a young man. The cocaine was in a black polythene bag, containing plantain and pineapples. I swallowed the 45 wraps in my toilet without my wife’s knowledge.
“I was promised the sum of N5 million naira, which I had wanted to use in importing electronics. At the airport, they told me that scanning machine has indicated that I have drugs on me. That was how I was arrested.”
Achebe hailed from Anambra State and is married with a daughter.
Ndukwe said that he was asked to smuggle five wraps of cocaine for the sum of N250,000 thousand naira.
Ndukwe, who hailed form Abia State said, “I have lived in Athens for over a decade. I lost my job last year, and things have been very bad financially. I came to Nigeria to visit my wife and two children. I had no plan to smuggle drugs, until a friend called me from Athens that I should bring five wraps of cocaine.
“Since it is only five wraps, I felt it will be an easy task. He sent someone to give me the wraps in Umuahia. I inserted the five wraps in my anus in Lagos, but the scanning machine was able to detect it. I feel very sad.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive, of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, (rtd), said that those wishing to get rich quick through drug trafficking will end up in prison custody.
“This is a warning to drug traffickers that the NDLEA is determined to detect all hidden drugs and prosecute offenders. There are control measures in place to detect narcotics at all exit and entry points. We shall continue to improve on our strategies, in line with our mission of providing a safe and healthy society for all,” Abdallah stated.
