Thursday, 19 February 2015

Stakeholders worry over Nigerians on death row abroad...intercepts 15850kg of cocaine

PRESS RELEASE

 The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmadu Giade has decried the unfortunate plight of some citizens who are awaiting execution on drug related offences in Indonesia.  Giade said that despite the deplorable condition of those on death row and the efforts of the government to intervene through presidential clemency, the Agency is still recording arrests of suspected drug traffickers.
“It is sad that at a time when the fate of some citizens is uncertain following their involvement in drug trafficking, yet we recording new arrest. Apart from the young man that imported 15.850kg of cocaine from Brazil, we recently apprehended six passengers going to Hong Kong in the same flight at the Abuja Airport. The NDLEA will continue to work with the government towards ensuring that our citizens on death row in foreign countries get succour through presidential clemency” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss was reacting to the arrest of a 27-year-old man, Ilo Chidera Alex who was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja with 15.850kg of cocaine hidden inside make-up brushes. He was apprehended following the interception of the drugs inside his luggage at the Abuja Airport while returning from Brazil. The estimated value of the drug is 126 million naira.
NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport, Hamisu Lawan said that the suspect Ilo Chidera Alex was found with drugs during routine check of passengers on an Emirate flight. “One Ilo Chidera Alex was arrested with 15.850kg of cocaine concealed inside make-up brushes. The twenty-seven year old suspect who hails from Enugu State took off from Sao Paulo enroute Dubai to Abuja. The drug was detected during routine check of passengers. Investigation has since commenced and the suspect will be charged to court soon” the commander assured.   
According to the suspect, he was stranded in Brazil and drug trafficking became his only option. “I went to Brazil in search of job opportunities. In the process, I was stranded because I had no job and money to sustain myself. That was how I met a man who promised to buy my flight ticket back to Nigeria. He gave me the bag of make-up brushes to take to Nigeria and also promised to give me some money to start my own business. At the Abuja airport, the drug was discovered in my luggage” Ilo stated.
It will be recalled that the NDLEA recently prevented six drug suspects from going to Hong Kong where drug trafficking is punishable by death. They were found with 7.145kg of cocaine which they ingested in a bid to evade arrest. The names of the suspects are Ekechi Ikechukwu Ferdinand, 36 years old found with 1.616kg, Okonkwo Okwuchukwu Paul, 20 years old found with 1.103kg, Azubuogu Emmanuel Obumneme, 30 years old caught with 1.450kg, Okechi Tochukwu Anthony, 34 years old found with 935 grammes, Anozie Uzoma Henry, 34 years old caught with 874 grammes and Okafor Ifeanyi Francis, 51 years old found with 1.167kg.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
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