Barring last minute pressure to get money and celebrate the nativity of Christ the King, four drug kin-pigs were nabbed by the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
the suspects were apprehended
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at
the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The suspects include Omidiya
Taiwo, 44 years old that works in an automobile company in Barcelona, Anikwe
Chukwudi Charles, 25 year old hotel attendant in Lagos, Igwe Nelson Chidi, 24
year old student in Cyprus and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil, 44 year old farmer in Imo
State. A total of 6.135kg of narcotics were seized from them.
NDLEA Commander at the
Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the breakdown of the drug as 4.290kg of
heroin, 570 grammes of methamphetamine and 1.275kg of cocaine. “Omidiya Taiwo
was found in possession of 525 grammes of cocaine and 1.540kg of heroin. He
ingested 87 wraps and concealed others in his pants on his way to Spain. Anikwe
Chukwudi Charles was intercepted with 570 grammes of methamphetamine concealed
in his luggage handles on his way to Malaysia, Igwe Nelson Chidi was found with
750 grammes of cocaine hidden under his luggage and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil was
caught with 2.750kg of heroin hidden inside duty free bag inside his luggage
while returning from Pakistan. They are cooperating with our team of
investigators and will be charged to court soon” Hamza stated.
Omidiya Taiwo who works in
Spain said that he was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend. “I have
been living in Spain for the past 14 years where I work with an automobile company.
My friend in Barcelona called me requesting that I should bring drugs to Spain.
He even contacted somebody who gave me the drugs in Lagos. After swallowing 87
wraps, I hid the remaining in my pants because the wraps were many. I was sad
when the drug was detected at the airport because I would have made a fortune
from it” Omidiya lamented. He hails from Ogun State.
Anikwe Chukwudi Charles
said that he was on his way to Malaysia for studies when he was caught with the
drugs. “I was working as a hotel attendant in Lagos when a customer asked me if
I am a graduate. I told him that I have five credits but could not further my
education because of lack of finance. He promised to help me and used to give
me money any time he comes around. He called me that he has completed my
admission to further my studies in Malaysia. That was how he paid my travel
expenses and gave me a bag to take to Malaysia. According to him, his friend
will collect the bag from me and assist me with my school admission. Unfortunately,
drug was found inside the handle of the bag he gave me” Anikwe stated. He hails
from Anambra State.
Igwe Nelson Chidi who is a
student said that he agreed to smuggle the drug for the sum of 5,000 pounds. According
to Igwe who hails from Imo State, “I got admission two months ago to study
Tourism and Hotel Management in Cyprus. While in Nigeria, a friend in Cyprus called
me to bring narcotics for a fee of 5,000 pounds. That was how I got involved in
drug trafficking. I wanted to use the money to settle my fees and buy books for
my study. This is a big setback for my career”.
Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil said
he was suffering in the village farming to survive when he was asked to go to
Pakistan by a friend. “I am a farmer in Imo State. It was difficult for me to
feed my wife and only child because of hardship. That was my condition when a
friend invited me to Pakistan. He promised to sponsor my trip and help me
secure a good job. When I got to Pakistan, he told me there was no job but that
I should take drugs to Nigeria. He promised to give me half a million naira to
start my business if I can take the drugs to Nigeria. Since life was becoming
unbearable I decided to take the risk. I was however not lucky because I was
arrested at the Lagos airport” Agomuo stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of
the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade warned drug trafficking syndicates that the Agency will
continue to intercept narcotics, arrest traffickers and prosecute them. “We
have put in place measures to intercept narcotics this end of year season. Drug
traffickers planning to smuggle drugs through the country shall be apprehended
and prosecuted. I am happy with the arrests particularly that of 25 year old Anikwe
Chukwudi Charles, a hotel attendant who was taking drugs to Malaysia where drug
trafficking attracts capital punishment” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss called on
members of the public to report suspected drug activities to the Agency.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
08034088136
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