Nigerians specialists in drug concealment-NDLEA

Emeka Ibemere

 Authorities at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said suspected drug traffickers from Nigeria are experts in drug concealment but that each of their tactics are not a problem for detection by the operatives of the agency at the airport, seaport and land borders.

The recent revelation was made following the expertise of the suspected drug traffickers using the nation’s routes in their illicit trade.

The shocking discovery made by the NDLEA operatives last week, was described by the Agency’s boss at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos as handwork of specialists. It was gathered that a suspect who was apprehended was a specialist in drug concealment.

Mitchell Ofoyeju told our correspondent that the suspect, who has been on the Agency’s wanted list, was caught at the MMIA Lagos, during screening of passengers on an Etihad flight. He left Sao Paulo, Brazil with 2.605kg of cocaine disguised as candies.

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar said that the suspect, Onyejiaju Chukwuemeka Augustine, 52, unlawfully possessed cocaine.

 “We made a shocking discovery of 2.605kg of cocaine carefully and neatly packed as candies. The suspect, Onyejiaju has been arrested and currently under investigation in connection with unlawful possession of cocaine,” Hamza stated.

Investigation showed that Onyejiaju owns a supermarket in Sao Paulo which he uses as a cover for his illicit drug activities.

An Urualla, Orlu Imo State born Onyejiaju was claimed to have taken responsibility of the drugs found in his possession. “I own and manage a supermarket in Brazil, where I had lived since 2006. I bought the cocaine and concealed it as candies. It is just unfortunate that the cocaine was found in my bag,” Onyejiaju stated without remorse.

Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade described the arrest, as a reward for the Agency’s protracted surveillance.

 “This significant arrest is an indication that the Agency is making remarkable progress in undercover operations. The suspect has been under surveillance for some years following his alleged role in illicit drug concealment for drug mules,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss added that other suspects on the Agency’s watch list shall soon be brought to justice as he would be charged to court soon.

However, NDLEA has also discovered a drug syndicate that operates under the cover of a travel Agency. This followed the arrest of two suspected members of the alleged cartel at the MMIA, Lagos. The duo was found in possession of 4.660kg of substances suspected to be methamphetamine at the airport car park.

Hamza Umar gave the names of the suspect as Gwacham Emmanuel Orakwe, 25, and Alhaji Ayila Kolawole, 47.

 “Gwacham Emmanuel Orakwe’s role was to smuggle the drug to India while Alhaji Ayila Kolawole was the one coordinating his movement. Both of them were apprehended at the car park with 4.660kg of methamphetamine. The drug was packed in five parcels in the bag of Gwacham who had a valid Emirate ticket to India,” Hamza stated.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Ayila contracted Gwacham Emmanuel Orakwe to traffic drugs to India for a fee. He also bought return ticket and promised to facilitate the safe departure of Gwacham thus making him the brain behind the attempted illicit exportation of 4.660kg of methamphetamine to Mumbai, India. The suspects have volunteered their statements to narcotic investigators.

According to Orakwe, he smuggled drugs to make ends meet. “I attended De Apex Creative Minds Academy Ogbunike, Anambra State where I had my O’ levels in 2005. I travelled to Libya in search of greener pastures but came back with multiplied pains. At present I do casual jobs to feed myself. That was the reason I accepted to smuggle the drugs for two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)” Gwacham stated. He hails from Anambra State.

Alhaji Ayila Kolawole in his statement said that he sponsored Gwacham Emmanuel Orakwe on the aborted drug trafficking trip. In his words, “I bought the return ticket for Gwacham Emmanuel Orakwe and promised to assist him travel with the drug without being arrested”.

He is married and has three children and is from Osun State.

Giade said that the Agency would continue to unmask members of drug syndicates. “Whatever trick drug barons apply, we shall expose them. This arrest is important for the Agency because we have moved beyond the courier to the mastermind of the illicit exportation. Investigation is on-going and more arrests shall be made,” Giade stated. Mitchell Ofoyeju also said the suspects would soon be charged to court.  Their ingenuity in packaging their illicit ‘wares’ are so hi-technical that it could beat unprofessional security person. 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.    

NDLEA were shocked to discover the new mode concealments being adopted by drug traffickers to evade arrest and possibly escape with their illicit drugs.

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.

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.

For another drug suspect, Emmanuel, it’s a thing he knows how best to do; concealment. NDLEA at the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), of the 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 airport. 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.