By Abel Orukpe
Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a student and four others at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos over unlawful possession of 10.255kgs of narcotics.
The suspects are: Okonkwo Daniel Anagor, a 26-year-old student, caught with 2.810kgs of Tramadol on his way to Dubai; Lawal Monsuru Ademola, 33, a trader arrested with 3.310kgs of methamphetamine on his way to South Africa; while Ogbonna Donatus Chigozie was caught attempting to smuggle 610 grammes of cocaine to Pakistan.
Two other suspects: Okoro Chibueze Augustine and Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi, were caught with 2.575kgs and 950 grammes of cocaine on their way from Brazil.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, who disclosed this yesterday, explained that the suspects were caught at the MMIA, Lagos and that the 10.255kgs of narcotics was hidden in garri; a West African staple food made from cassava and luggage.
He said Anagor, who was to board Rwand Air flight to Dubai told investigators that he wanted to spend some time after his secondary school and further his education in Dubai.
The Commander added that this ambition has however been scuttled, following his arrest as well as criminal charges of drug exportation against him by the agency.
According to Anagor, who hails from Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, “I was travelling to Dubai to spend holiday and further my studies but they called me from Dubai that somebody will give me garri in Lagos. When I got to Lagos, the person called me and gave me the bag of garri. This is my first time of travelling outside the country. At the airport, the garri was searched and 445 sachets of Tramadol were found inside the bag. That was how I was arrested”.
For Ademola, who sells clothes in Marina Lagos and holds a diploma in Computer Installations and Repairs at the Lagos State Polytechnic, his journey was aborted when 3.310kgs of crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine was found in his possession.
The drug, according to the anti-narcotic agency was neatly packed in 26 parcels in a false bottom of his luggage.
Similarly, Chigozie was nabbed while attempting to board an Emirate flight to Pakistan, while Okoro, an indigene of Imo State, who was expecting to rake N2.5 million from the deal, blamed hard luck for his arrest .
In his words, “I have lived in Brazil for a year and six months. I have suffered trying to make ends meet in Brazil. I got involved in drug trafficking so as to start a legitimate business. I expected to have made N2.5 million from the deal. Unfortunately, my partner who would have collected the drug in Dubai failed to show up so I had to come to Nigeria with the drug. That was not the original plan. This is a bad luck and I feel so sad”. He is single and hails from Imo State.”
Okpue, 39, who hails from Enugu and works in a restaurant in Brazil, where he had lived for a year said that he came to Nigeria for his traditional marriage ceremony.
According to him, “I sincerely want to get married and have a family. In the process of trying to make more money, I was given 59 wraps of cocaine to take to Nigeria for N400,000. Now I realised I have made a big mistake. I pray my woman will find a place in her heart to forgive me. I feel I am under a spell.”
The five suspects, the NDLEA Airport Commander said would soon be arraigned in court.
No comments:
Post a Comment