Operatives
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed a drug
trafficking syndicate, with the arrest of 14 suspects.
The suspects
were alleged to have dissolved some of the drugs, worth N3 million, in water
and absorbed in two towels and a T-shirt, while others were industrially packed
in tin foods and body cream packs.
Eight of the
suspects, according to Lagos Airport NDLEA Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, were
apprehended at the point of smuggling the substance, which tested positive to
cocaine, into the country from Brazil and Argentina, while six others were
intercepted while attempting to smuggle the drugs to Hong Kong, Dubai, Italy
and Brazil.
He said, “Four of the suspects were apprehended aboard
flight Royal Air Maroc, on their way from Brazil. “Okafor,
25, was caught with 13.735kg cocaine in tin food; Okeke, 29, was arrested with
3.425kg cocaine absorbed in towels; Akpobome, 32, was found with 1.730kg of
cocaine absorbed in T-shirt; Ani, 37, was found with 300 grammes of cocaine;
Madububa, 38, ingested 845 grammes of cocaine; Amuka, 26, ingested 1.505kg
cocaine, while Ijoganu, 25, ingested 1.240kg of cocaine.
“Others
include Obiefuna, 40, who was found with 500 grammes of cocaine; Ogbodu, 48,
was caught with 1.650kg of cocaine; Nwakama, 32, was caught with 1.060kg of
cocaine; Egbueme, 31, was found with 1.190kg of cocaine; Nwachukwu, 38, was
found with 975 grammes of heroin/cocaine; Adebayo, 30, was caught with 5kg of
cannabis and Oforegbu was caught with 505 grammes of cocaine.
During
investigation, some of the suspects reportedly told operatives that they went
into the business to raise money to celebrate Christmas and New year. For instance, Akpobome said that he was
promised N2 million if he succeeded in smuggling 1.730kg of cocaine absorbed in
a T-shirt from Argentina to Nigeria. Okafor
said he was promised N10 million, while Nwakama said he would have been paid
over N1 million had the trip not been botched.
Okafor,
alleged to have been arrested with the largest quantity of drugs which was
concealed inside tin foods, said: “I was tempted into drug trafficking because
I had no one to help me financially.“I travelled to Brazil a year ago in search
of job. But I ended up hawking toys in Brazil to sustain myself. Along the
line, a friend promised to pay for my ticket to Nigeria to spend the end of
year festive season.
“He was the
person that gave me the drugs packed inside tin foods. I agreed because the
amount will assist in no little means to celebrate Christmas.
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