Teacher escapes jail ……As NDLEA aborts plan to use her as drug courier

Emeka Ibemere

An attempt by a 30-year-old man to use a teacher in Imo State to smuggle cannabis to Dubai using the luggage of the Headmistress had been aborted by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Headmistress would have arraigned in court for aiding and abetting of drug trafficking if not for the discreet investigation work done by the NDLEA officials. The woman was set-off the hook, when it was proved beyond doubts that she was innocent to the crime.

The cannabis weighing 130 grammes was hidden inside local alcoholic beverage known as Alomo bitters was detected at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), as the woman was to embark on her trip to Dubia. The suspect, Nnadi Chibueze concealed the drug which was given to the Headmistress to deliver in Dubai.

NDLEA commander at the Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that Nnadi Chibueze has explained his role in his confessional statement.

 “As soon as the drug was detected, we conducted a follow-up raid operation that led to the arrest of the main suspect, Nnadi Chibueze. He has owned up to the crime and the case is being investigated for subsequent prosecution”, Hamza stated.

According to Nnadi, the drug consignment was inadvertently given to the Headmistress in error.

“I personally concealed the cannabis inside one of the bottles of Alomo bitters. The original plan was to send the drug to my brother in Dubai through a friend but the consignment was given to the Headmistress in error. When I was told that the goods were given to the head mistress, I was greatly disturbed. It was a great mistake that she was given the consignment that contained the drug” Nnadi stated.

The suspect who hails from Imo State claimed to be a 2008 graduate of Physics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for the swift intervention that led to the arrest of the main suspect.

“NDLEA will leave no stone unturned in frustrating the devices of drug traffickers. We have institutionalized a culture of follow-up operation to enrich investigation activities. Drug traffickers must pay for their evil acts. I commend the officers for the swift and painstaking investigation that led to the arrest of the main suspect. All arrangement has been completed for him to face criminal prosecution” Giade stated.