New mode of concealment shocks NDLEA operatives

Emeka Ibemere

Their modes of concealment are so utterly nifty, that if the ingenuity is applied into industrial output, packaging industries in Nigeria won’t lack manpower or churn out packages that lacked expertise.

Their ingenuity in packaging their illicit ‘wares’ are so hi-technical that they deserved to be employed in one of the industries in Nigeria rather than using it illicitly. They are so smart alecks that they could beat professional eagle-eye operatives, to look like a novice at their duty stations. But these are the levels drug traffickers in Nigeria have gone to evade arrest.

Over the years, drug trafficking has advanced in their mode of operations in beating security agents at the border and at the airports.

The suspected traffickers according to investigation have jettisoned the old model of ingestion techniques in beating the security agents because of the dangerous health hazards associated with the swallowing of cocaine and heroin. The modes of skill are brazen with awe that one wonders the faces behind the tactics.     

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos State were shocked to discover the new mode concealments being adopted by drug traffickers to evade arrest and possibly escape with their ‘wares’.

Though as smart as these new tactics are; the NDLEA operatives manning the entry and exit points are not sleeping on their duties, though not in every situations, as some drug traffickers still escape.

Last weekend at the popular MMIA, the operatives apprehended a 35-year-old citizen of Sierra Leone in connection with illegal importation of cocaine from Brazil. The suspect was arrested during inward screening of Etihad passengers at the arrival hall of the airport. But how did he ‘pot’ the parcels of cocaine weighing 3.910kg drug from Brazil that beats the Brazilian airport security to Nigeria? According to the NDLEA operatives, the illicit drugs were discovered inside tablets of soap buried in his luggage. The estimated worth of the drug is N35million.

The NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the name of the suspect as Sesay Michael.

“A suspected drug trafficker by name Sesay Michael with a Republic of Sierra Leone international passport number E0033840 is under investigation for cocaine importation. The drug weighing 3.910kg was industrially concealed in tablets of soap inside his luggage. It was a clever means of concealment but not good enough to escape our notice,” Hamza stated.

In his confessional statement, Sesay Michael described his arrest as painful. “I am from Freetown, Sierra Leone. A businessman and I sell clothes in Sao Paulo, Brazil and in Conakry, Guinea. When I arrived at the Lagos airport from Brazil, NDLEA demanded to search my luggage and the drug was found inside the tablets of soap. I am a single father and I do not have somebody to take care of my child. It is a very painful experience to me because I never thought of arrest,” Sesay stated.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade commended the arresting officers for the discovery.

 “This seizure will definitely send a warning signal to drug barons that the Agency is determined to detect hidden drugs. We are working very hard to prevent the use of our airports, seaports and land borders from being used for drug trafficking,” Giade stated.

The suspect, according to the agency would soon face charges in the law court. Then if you think of Sessy’s ingenuity, then read Chukwu Onyekachi Emmanuel’s account. For Emmanuel, is a thing he knows how best to do; concealment.

NDLEA at the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos detected Emmanuel’s narcotics hidden inside a consignment of dried fish imported from Thailand. The 35-year-old customs licensed agent, was linked in connection with the illicit importation of the dried fish containing dangerous morphine injections.

According to the anti-narcotic agents, the shipment was detected during inward screening of goods onboard an Ethiopian airline flight.

Mr. Hamza Umar also said the three different narcotics were found in the consignment containing dried fish.

“Three types of drugs were found concealed in dried fish.

 The drugs recovered by the NDLEA during the search operation include 24 packs of morphine injections weighing 14.960kg, 24 packs of pethidine injections weighing 10.820kg and 157 packs of apresoline injections weighing 3.505kg. In all a total of 29.285kg was seized and a customs licensed agent who handled the clearance of the shipment had also been apprehended,” Hamza stated.

It is pertinent to note that unlike cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, drugs like morphine, pethidine and apresoline are not frequently seized in the country.

 Besides, the seized drugs have been industrially prepared in injectable forms. This increases risk of abuse particularly among injecting drug addicts. 

The suspect, a Lagos resident lives with his family. He allegedly told investigators that he was paid to clear the consignment.

 “A client asked me to clear the consignment. I was told that the content is dried fish. In the process, NDLEA officers said that they wanted to search it. I told them that it contained fish but they are free to search. However, during examination, packs of injections were found under the dry fish. I was then arrested” Chukwu stated. He hails from Imo State. 

Ahmadu Giade in his reaction promised to charge all persons linked with the importation to court. “The Agency shall prosecute all persons connected with the unlawful import,” Giade stated. The NDLEA boss warned that agents are liable and will be prosecuted if narcotics are found in their consignments. Meanwhile, the suspect has been transferred to the Shaw Road Headquarters of the agency for prosecution.

  

On the same page of ingenuity in concealing illicit drugs from detection was another drug dictated at the airport following the abandonment of the drug by a suspected drug trafficker syndicate at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The importation of five kilogrammes of high grade heroin shocked the agency. The drug was hidden inside praying rugs imported from Pakistan. Who could have thought of cocaine hidden inside a praying mat?

The 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.

NDLEA Airport commander, Mr.Hamza 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 had lived in Gabon for 10 years. He tested positive for drug ingestion. While he was under observation, he excreted 9 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes. According to Osigwe, “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”. The NDLEA boss said that Nigeria is winning the drug war against all odds and despite their high technological skill in concealments. “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 who ordered an investigation into the cases assured that all suspects arrested will be charged to court.

NDLEA also discovered three kilogrammes of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine inside female hair attachment. Anti-narcotic officials detected the drugs at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The drug was meant for export to South Africa. Umar said that the Agency apprehended a thirty-seven (37) year-old freight forwarder in connection with the illicit shipment. In his words, “we have arrested a 37 year-old forwarding agent by name; Mark Udegbulun who brought a consignment of female artificial hair for shipment to South Africa. During examination of the bag, nine of the packs were found to contain parcels of substance that tested positive for methamphetamine hidden inside the artificial hair. He is currently being investigated”.

The Airport commander added that the discovery was made barely few days after a suspected drug trafficking syndicate abandoned five kilogrammes of heroin which was hidden inside a shipment of praying rugs from Pakistan.

During interrogation, the suspect, Mark Udegbulun told narcotic investigators that he collected the bag containing the drug at Yaba area of Lagos from his friend who is also his good customer.

“I personally received the shipment from my friend and customer at Yaba, Lagos. He paid me to send the bag to South Africa as unaccompanied cargo. Unfortunately, while the officers were searching the bag, the drug was found inside nine of the packs of hair attachment”. Mark hails from Nnewi in Anambra State. He is married and has two children.