The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended
a 40-year-old patent medicine dealer for attempting to export cannabis inside
foodstuff to China. The suspect, Ubaka Dennis Chidozie is being investigated in
connection with the unlawful exportation of 3.964kg of cannabis to China. The first
consignment containing 1.830kg of cannabis was intercepted at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while another bag of foodstuff
containing 2.134kg of cannabis belonging to him was also detected at Akanu
Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu.
NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said
that Ubaka Dennis Chidozie is a serial offender. “The suspect specializes in
concealing cannabis in foodstuff for innocent travellers. Luck ran against him
when the parcel he sent through the Lagos airport was intercepted. While we were investigating this case, he
attempted sending another shipment of cannabis at the Enugu airport where he
was apprehended. Ubaka is cooperating with the team of narcotic investigators”
Hamza stated.
The suspect told investigators that he was recently
introduced into cannabis trafficking by friends. “I am a patent medicine
dealer. I have two wives and six children. I started exporting foodstuff to
China to augment the earnings from my patent medicine shop. My friend recently
introduced me to cannabis smuggling to China. I used to hide little quantities
of cannabis inside foodstuff which I give to agents to send to China. I deliberately
did not inform them that there is cannabis in the bag with the hope that since
the quantity is small, it will not be detected by the authority. I am new in
the business and I am begging for mercy because of my wives and children” Ubaka
stated. He is a JSS 3 graduate of Government Technical College Onitsha. He hails
from Anambra State.
Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade assured members of the
public that the Agency will bring traffickers to book. In his words, “the NDLEA
has an effective drug detecting mechanism at all the airports. We shall
continue to increase our capacity and send drug barons out of the criminal
transaction in drugs. Let me assure you that no drug dealer shall go unpunished.
We are working hard to address the problem of drug production, trafficking and
abuse”.
Meanwhile, the suspect will be charged to court soon.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
08034088136
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