Desperate nursing mother in NDLEA cage

Emeka Ibemere

Desperation to survive can be a killer sucker punch. It can kill fear; suppress emotion, throws caution to the winds and dignity to the dogs. For her, the utmost feeling running through her mind was the desperation to succeed.

So, when a 34 year old nursing mother threw caution and her three months old baby aside to peddle in illicit drugs, then you can explain the spirit behind her - desperation.

As a licensed Clearing and Forwarding agent with five years working experience and a nursing mother, Mrs. Mbonu Chizoba, knew that survival by all means possible; was what she needed to announce her arrival in the comity of cream de societe.

 But her courage failed her and now at the popular Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed, Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos State, Mrs Mbonu is in a sticky situation as to what happened to her. Worst is when her three month’s old little ‘Chizoba’ junior grew up, her mother will explain to her, what she (Chizoba junior), was doing at the NDLEA cell at that age.

She was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for trying to ferry illicit drugs out of the shores of Africa through Nigeria. Mrs. Mbonu is currently being investigated in connection with the unlawful exportation of 6kg of cannabis to China.

Officials say she was detected of illicit drugs during routine inspection of cargoes at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed, Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

According to the operatives, her packaging of the contraband was too tricky, capable of beating preying eagle eyes of the operatives at the NACHO shed. It was gathered that the sealing of the items were perfectly done and one resembling a work of a Clearing and Forwarding expert. She could have beaten the security checks if not for the thorough examination of the items tendered for screening. The compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis was hidden in a luggage meant for export on an Ethiopian airline flight.

The law being no respecter of any body, Mrs. Mbonu will face trial despite the fact that she was a nursing mother at the time of her arrest. It was gathered that she won’t be released until her trials are concluded. NDLEA says they have given her option of staying with her three months old infant in the custody of NDLEA and continued her exclusive breastfeeding or release the baby to her grandparents and face her trial.  

NDLEA Lagos Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umur said that the suspect has a choice to be with her three months old baby while investigation lasts.

“The suspect Mrs. Mbonu Chizoba brought a bag for export to China. During search, 6kg of compressed cannabis was found inside the bag. The bag contains clothing, cell phones, cell phone batteries and shoes. She is currently undergoing investigation but she has a choice to be with her baby during the course of investigation,” Hamza stated.

According to Mrs. Mbonu in her statement, she was not aware of the deal she struck with the business owners who she claimed that owned the suspected illicit drugs. She said that she was a victim of circumstance. Narrating her ordeal of arrest, she quipped:

 “I am a licensed clearing and forwarding agent with five years working experience. I was given the bag by a client to send to China. In the process of searching the bag, the drug was found inside the bag. I was told that the bag contained sample goods, unfortunately drug was hidden inside”, Mrs Mbonu stated. But the NDLEA says ignorance of the law is not an excused.

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency would intensify efforts in arresting other persons connected with the shipment.

“Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other persons connected with the case. The Agency will continue to prevent drugs from coming in and out of the country through superior counter-narcotic operations” Giade stated. According to Mitchell Ofoyeju in a press Release concerning the incident, the suspect would be charged to court soon. In May 2013, the officials of NDLEA said they apprehended two men in connection with unlawful exportation of narcotic drugs.

The suspects were allegedly arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with 3.700kg of narcotics; a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 1.700kg hidden in a false bottom of luggage. It was detected during the outward clearance of Arik air passengers to Monrovia while 2kg of cannabis concealed in dried bitter leaf vegetable was found during the outward search of goods meant for export on board Qatar airline flight.

According to the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, both suspects were caught during routine check. They were a 53 year old Obianwo Josiah Okwuchukwu, who concealed 1.700kg of methamphetamine in his luggage on his way to Monrovia, Liberia while Ifeanyi Okafor, 38, concealed his own 2kg of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis sativa in a bag containing dried bitter leaf vegetable meant for export to Doha, Qatar.

Both suspects who are from Anambra State have claimed ownership of the drugs. They also stated in their confessional statements that they were enticed by the monetary reward offered by their sponsors. For Obianwo Josiah Okwuchukwu, it was family problem and collapsed business that pushed him into drug peddling.

 “I have lived in Monrovia for the past five years. I work in a cinema in order to sustain myself and family. My problem began when I lost all my savings to the war in Sierra Leone. I have been living from hand to mouth. My situation was so bad that I agreed to smuggle the drugs for 2,000 dollars”. Obianwo has a wife and four children living in Lagos.

While Ifeanyi Okafor said that he lost $87,000 to fraudsters. “I am an importer of baby clothes. My business was going on fine until I lost 87,000 dollars to fraudsters. In fact, I am yet to recover from that tragic incident that reduced me into a beggar. I was smuggling the 2kg of cannabis for a fee of 1,400 dollars. It was carefully packaged but unfortunately the officers detected it” Ifeanyi stated.

Reacting to the latest arrests, NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade said that stiffer penalty is one of the effective strategies of drug control. “No doubt, stiffer penalties remain one of the effective ways of addressing the problem of drug trafficking in the country. If a 53 year old man knows that if caught with drugs, he will spend the next 15 years in jail, there will be some restraint”, Giade said. The suspects are to be charged to court.

In another development, the Lagos State Command of the NDLEA has step up their war against drug trafficking and abuse by taking the fight to the notorious enclave of Lagos State that has been under siege following the activities of cult gang in the Mushin Council Area of Lagos State in the past six months.

Some weeks ago, a combined team of officers with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Army carried out a raid on Akala area of Mushin, a notorious criminal hideout in Lagos.

The operation which lasted several hours at the weekend led to the arrest of 47 suspected drug traffickers and addicts with the seizure of 3,166.15kg of narcotics including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Chairman of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade commended the Nigerian Army Commander, 9 Brigade Lagos, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade, for giving the needed back-up because of the notoriety of the area.

 “The Agency will continue to gather intelligence reports and conduct raids on criminal hideouts. We are prepared to clean-up Lagos. This operation is a pointer to the fact that no criminal location is invincible. The understanding and cooperation of the Nigerian Army is highly commendable,” Giade stated.

In his reaction, Brig. General Oyebade urged stakeholders to support the NDLEA in the eradication of illegal drugs in our society.

“Illicit drugs induce crime and aggravate insecurity. Considering the problem of drugs we are ready to assist the NDLEA whenever they call on us. I also urge other stakeholders to partner with the Agency in making the country drug-free”. Oyebade appealed.

NDLEA Lagos State commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule said that a cannabis warehouse was discovered during the raid operation. A total of 47 suspected drug traffickers including addicts were apprehended. They include 42 males and five females. “An illegal warehouse was discovered at the scene of operation where 3,166.15kg of drugs mainly cannabis was seized. There were also 31.4 grammes of heroin, 292 grammes of cocaine and 1.9 grammes of methamphetamine which were prepared in pinches meant for local consumption”, Sule stated.

The commander added that the operation is the second raid on Akala in the last seven days. The first operation according to him led to the seizure of 187.355kg of cannabis.

It would be recalled that the NDLEA Chairman met with Governor Babatunde Fashola in February 2013, where the Agency solicited for State support on how to arrest the rising wave of drug trafficking syndicates following the discovery of several methamphetamine production laboratories in the State. NDLEA has commenced investigation and all those found culpable are to be prosecuted while the addicts have been placed on counselling at the Shaw Road Headquarters of the agency.