The National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed a drug trafficking cell in Lagos that specializes
in smuggling drugs to China. The anti-drug Agency also prevented the
exportation of 34.605kg of cannabis and 1.175kg of heroin to China. The arrests
and seizures took place at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA)
Lagos while other accomplices were apprehended during a follow-up operation. Five
persons have so far been arrested with 35.78kg of drugs.
Chairman/Chief Executive of
NDLEA Ahmadu Giade while applauding the latest crackdown described the action of
the drug couriers as worrisome. In his words, “we are happy to arrest the drug couriers
and their sponsors. It is however sad that barely a week after two Nigerians were
executed in Indonesia for drug trafficking, these suspects are taking narcotics
to China where drug offenders are liable to capital punishment”.
The NDLEA boss added that “we
have come to a point where drug traffickers must obey the laws of the land against
drug trafficking and ultimately protect their precious lives from untimely
death. It is incomprehensible that while the Federal Government is making
frantic efforts to prevent the killing of Nigerians who are on death row over
drug trafficking some others are still committing same offence”.
NDLEA commander at the
Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar explained how the command arrested five suspects with
35.78kg of illegal drugs. According to Hamza, “we arrested one Obi Onyeka
Emmanuel with 1.175kg of heroin while attempting to board Qatar Airline flight
to China. Upon interrogation, Aguezeala Bob Chidubem a fake custom officer and
Obidiazor Stanley were apprehended for allegedly sponsoring Obi Onyeka. Ezeocha
Henry Chidi and Alor Tochukwu Isaac were also caught with 11.430kg and 23.175kg
of cannabis respectively on their way to China”.
When arrested, Aguezeala Bob
Chidubem claimed to be a serving customs officer at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
However, preliminary investigation revealed that he is impersonating as the Tin
Can command of the Nigerian Customs Service confirmed to the Agency that there is
no officer with that name and service number.
Obi Onyeka Emmanuel, 39, a
trader that sells Jeans at Mandilas, Lagos Island said he was promised 4,000
dollars to smuggle heroin to China. “I was given 100 wraps of heroin by Stanley
to swallow. I was able to swallow 68 wraps because it is my first time. They also
promised to pay me 4,000 dollars but unfortunately the drug was detected by the
scanning machine. I got involved in drug trafficking because I lost 10,000
dollars in my business. I was desperate to recover from my lost money” Obi who
hails from Anambra State stated.
Aguezeala Bob Chidubem,45,
was found to be a fake custom officer. He claimed to be a 1993 graduate of
Industrial Chemistry from University of Port Harcourt. Aguezeala who hails from
Imo State conspired with Odidiazor Stanley, 31, to finance the trip of Obi
Onyeka Emmanuel to China with 1.175kg of heroin. Stanley hails Anambra State.
Similarly, Ezeocha Henry
Chidi, 33, who resides in Onitsha was caught with 11.160kg of cannabis. He was
to board a Kenya Airways flight to China when the drug was detected. His arrest
took place simultaneously with Alor Tochukwu Isaac who was to board Ethiopian
Airways with 23.175kg of cannabis to China.
According to Alor, “Ezeocha
Henry is my friend. We are both into cargo business because we send goods for
people. One of my customers brought three bags to me to take to China. He told
me that the bags contained foodstuff and gave me twenty-two thousand naira (N22,000).
I blame myself for not searching the bags although this is not my first time of
collecting goods from him. What I did was based on trust but it ended this way.
I took two bags and gave one to Ezeocha Henry with twelve thousand naira (N12,000)”.
All the suspects will soon
be charged to court.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs,
08034088136
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