Confessions of drug barons: ‘why we swallow wraps of cocaine’

Emeka Ibemere

 Nothing suggested that they are financially broke. Their huge frame coupled with their neatly linen and costly Italian designers’ outfits suggests that they weren’t truly lacking money.

Those who knew them say what Amobi Okoye, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna, and Musah Iddrisu a.k.a Charles Udunehi, Inana Cedrick, and John Obi Nwadilichukwu lacked was perseverance to wait for their time for to make bigger money in an upright way. But greed lured him into drug trafficking.

They saw a beaconing ‘chance’ to be rich quick; and without giving a second thought, they gambled on it and today, they are singing different tones of confessional statement, like renewed criminals at an alter call of one of the Pentecostal churches that dots every available space in Nigeria.

At the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), cell at the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), shed along Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Ikeja and at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu which has turned to be their new abode where their confessional statements are being heard, the suspects are telling their crimes in trying to smuggle drugs out of Nigeria.

 Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos State and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, apprehended the suspected drug traffickers during the week.

The 40-year-old Okoye who lives in Ancona, Italy was arrested while trying to board an Alitalia flight. He was found to have swallowed sixty-three (63) wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.030kg.

The street worth of his ‘goods’ NDLEA officer said is at N2.5million. The suspect, in his statement said he was in Nigeria in search of a wife but decided to smuggle cocaine because he was financially broke.

According to the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, the suspect was nabbed with the help of scanning machine. “A forty 40-year-old Nigerian living in Italy, Amobi Okoye, has been arrested for trafficking in cocaine. The suspect was nabbed when the scanning machine revealed the ingested drugs”, he stated. “While in custody, he excreted a total of sixty-three (63) wraps of powdery substances weighing 1.030kg that tested positive for cocaine. He is currently under investigation”.

Investigations revealed that the suspect has been living in Italy since 2009 but came home in December 2013 in an alleged search of a wife but got involved in drug trafficking because he was broke.

“My involvement in cocaine trafficking was an afterthought. The reason I came to Nigeria in December 2013, was in search of a wife. In the process, I spent all the money with me. While searching for money to buy my ticket, I was introduced into drug trafficking. They promised to pay me $4,000 in addition to all travel expenses. It was a difficult decision for me but it was my last hope,” Amobi stated.

The Enugu State born suspect has refused to mention names of those who introduced him into drug trafficking.  

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade called on members of the public to resist drug trafficking and support the anti-drug campaign.

“Drug mules must shun drug trafficking in their best interest and that of the society at large”, he said. “It is important for them to realize that the financial inducement offered by drug barons is insignificant compared with the damage to their reputation and that of their families. The best solution is to say no to drug trafficking at all times,” Giade stated.

According to Ofoyeju Mitchell, the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

In another development, another suspected drug trafficking syndicate abandoned five kilogrammes of high grade heroin at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The drug was hidden inside praying rugs imported from Pakistan.

Narcotic officers made the discovery during inward screening of cargoes on Qatar Airline flight. The Agency also arrested a twenty-nine (29) year old man, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna for ingesting nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes at the airport.

Umar said that the examination of the consignment was witnessed by other security agents.

“The consignment was given 100 per cent physical examination in the presence of customs and other security agents. During the search, we found thirty-five (35) sachets of brown powdery substance that tested positive for heroin concealed inside praying rugs. A trader was also arrested for ingesting methamphetamine,” Hamza stated.

The suspect, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna who had lived in Gabon for ten years tested positive for drug ingestion. While he was under observation, he excreted nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes. “This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I feel sad because my pastor warned me against crime. He told me that I will be successful in life but I must avoid drug trafficking, fraud and other crimes in order to actualise God’s plan for my life”, Osigwe said. The suspect who is a primary school certificate holder is single and hails from Imo State.

Giade also said that Nigeria is winning the drug war against all odds. “Nigeria is winning the anti-narcotic crusade against all odds. Drug cartels only abandon their drugs when the operating environment is inclement. This is a sign of effective security checks which is good for the country. The NDLEA will continue to intercept drugs through advance surveillance techniques,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss further ordered an investigation into the cases assured that all suspects arrested would be charged to court.

 As that wasn’t enough, ooperatives of the NDLEA at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, said they arrested two foreigners with narcotic drugs as suspected drug barons allegedly shift attention to the newly opened AIIA, Enugu.

The two suspected drug traffickers were caught during inward and outward screening of Ethiopian airline passengers. The list containing the names of the suspect is: 54-year-old Ghanaian comedian, Musah Iddrisu aka Charles Udunehi who bought drugs for $19,000 and a 20-year-old citizen of Congo DRC, Inana Cedrick who claimed to be a secondary school student in Tanzania.

The NDLEA Commander at the Enugu Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh said that Inana Cedrick was caught with 1.500kg of heroin while Musah Iddrisu was found to have ingested 450 grammes of cocaine.

 “The Ghanaian comedian ingested 450 grammes of cocaine on his way to Thailand while the student from Congo DRC imported 1.500kg of heroin into the country. We have also apprehended a Nigerian by name John Obi Nwadilichukwu who was to receive the student, collect the drug and pay him for smuggling the drug,” Nsikak-Abasi stated.

Officials were alleged to have detected the 1.500kg of heroine hidden inside a luggage during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight.

Daily Newswatch gathered that during interrogation, Inana revealed that he was given the drug by a Nigerian woman at Nairobi to deliver to her husband in Enugu.

 “I was given the drug in Nairobi by a Nigerian woman who told me to give the drug to her husband, John Obi Nwadilichukwu who resides in Enugu. I wanted to use the money they promised to pay me in buying beads for sale in Tanzania. I am a secondary school student from a poor home,” he stated.

On his own, the Ghanaian comedian, Musah Iddrisu aka Charles Udunehi, revealed that he wanted to sell drugs in Thailand.

“I am a Ghanaian and a comedian by profession. I got involved in drug trafficking because of my financial predicament. I bought the drugs in Ghana, ingested it and came to Enugu airport. As a new airport, I felt the security will not be like other airports but I was caught. I regret my action,” Musah stated.

Speaking on the arrests, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that adequate security efforts have been made to apprehend drug traffickers at the Enugu International Airport.

“We have already deployed our officials to the Enugu airport before it commenced international flights. Adequate security measures have been put in place to apprehend drug traffickers at the airport,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss commended the officers for the arrests and urged them to remain vigilant at all times.

“All the suspects have made confessional statements and will soon be charged to court”, Mitchell Ofoyeju stated.