Kenyan ‘pilgrim’ in Nigeria nabbed for hard drugs

Emeka Ibemere

It’s only Imeloah Awino Noah, 32 and a Kenyan woman knows when Nigerian’s status has risen to become a ‘Holy land’ to be visited by pilgrims. Even when Nigerians aren’t aware of this new status she has given to Nigeria.

But that was what she told her country security operatives at the airport in Nairobi, capital of  Kenya, that gave her entry visa to Bujumbura, Burundi enroute Nigeria with her ‘goods’ made up of heroin. That is the desperation, drug traffickers could be into; to get attention from the gullible security operatives.

But in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos State is telling Noah that Nigeria hasn’t assume the status of a ‘holy land’ yet to be visited by pilgrims. Available information with our correspondent says the agency has commenced investigation into the arrest of the 32 year-old Kenyan lady with 2.560kg of substance that tested positive for heroin.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, NDLEA Public Relations Officer, stated that the suspect left Bujumbura, Burundi under the pretext of going on pilgrimage to Nigeria, and with this bait, she beat her country’s airport security to land in Nigeria.

However, she was shocked when her arrest was made following the discovery of heroin hidden inside two pairs of female sandals buried under her luggage. According to the operatives, the seizure of the luggage took place during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa.

Preliminary investigations conducted on her so far revealed that she planned to smuggle the drugs into the country using pilgrimage as her decoy to evade arrest as she had done in Kenya. Investigations on her passports and other travelling documents also show that she wasn’t a first time visitor to Nigeria. Daily Newswatch gathered that this would make it three times that she would smuggle drugs into Nigeria.

Unknown to her that she has been placed under surveillance, Noah, trips Nigeria with illicit drugs as if it’s legalised in Nigeria to trade on the illicit substances. “This is her third visit to Nigeria in two years”, NDLEA Public Relations Officer, disclosed to our correspondent.

“It was also gathered that she left Nairobi, Kenya to Bujumbura where she collected the luggage containing the drugs before proceeding to Nigeria through Addis Ababa”.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar while confirming the arrest gave the name of the suspect as Imeloah Awino Noah. The commander stated that; “operatives of the NDLEA arrested a Kenyan by name Imeloah Awino Noah with 2.560kg of heroin. The drug was found inside the soles of two pairs of female sandals as well as in a false bottom of her luggage. She is cooperating with our investigating team”.

According to the suspected drug trafficker, she ventured into the drug cartel business through her best friend, though she refused to give out the name of her ‘best friend’ that lured her into the deal. According to her, she become involved when her mastermind, introduced her to another Nigerian in Kenya, who promised to help her come to Nigeria with a promise of getting her job.

Her alleged Nigerian sponsor, though not mentioned by her, was said to have purchased every travelling document for her to enable her visit Nigeria, where he told Noah that jobs exist in Nigeria.

With that assurance in her mind, she agreed to visit Nigeria. But the Nigerian drug baron, who allegedly owns the drug, was alleged to have offered her luggage to drop it to somebody in Nigeria. According to the suspect, unemployment made her to seek for help from her ‘best-friend’ who now introduced her to the Nigerian drug baron residing in Burundi.

“My best friend masterminded my involvement in drug trafficking. I am a diploma holder in Community Health and Development at the African Institute of Development Studies in Western Kenyan town of Kisumu, Nyanza Province. After my one year volunteer service, I have been searching for employment”, she added.

 “My best friend introduced me to her Nigerian boyfriend who offered to assist me by sponsoring my trip to Nigeria. Initially I was reluctant but my friend persuaded me. They bought my ticket and gave me the bag containing clothes where the heroin was hidden. On arrival at the Lagos airport, the drug was detected,” Noah told investigators. According to her, she loves visiting Nigeria to receive blessings from her spiritual father.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade has called on members of the public not to be ignorant of the devices of drug trafficking syndicates.

“Drug barons sometimes present themselves as philanthropists. They will offer you free tickets and make all travel arrangements but the ultimate objective is to get you to smuggle their drugs from one point to another. Members of the public should be on the alert and report suspected drug barons to the Agency,” Giade appealed. According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, the suspect would appear in court to face charges of drug trafficking as soon as investigations are concluded.

 It would be recalled that 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 would 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 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.