PRESS RELEASE
The
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended six suspected drug
traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with 16.51kg
of narcotics. The drugs include 10.27kg of cannabis, 1.31kg of methamphetamine
and 4.93kg of cocaine. Two of the drug suspects were bringing cocaine from
Brazil, two others were taking methamphetamine to Tanzania and South Africa;
another was taking cannabis to Doha, Qatar while the only female among them was
going to Madrid, Spain with cocaine.
Chairman/Chief
Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade warned
that drug barons who dare the collective will of the NDLEA shall be arrested
and prosecuted. “Our capacity has rapidly increased over the years and anybody who
dares to smuggle drugs through the entry points such as airports, sea ports and
land borders will regret such actions. Nigeria is our country, we must protect
it from drug trafficking” Giade stated.
NDLEA
commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar explained that one of the
suspects was found with liquid cocaine in body cream while another excreted
wraps of cocaine on board the aircraft. “We just arrested six suspected drug
traffickers with drugs weighing 16.51kg including liquid cocaine. The suspects
include Nwodo Chidiebere Anthony found with 3.260kg of liquid cocaine concealed
in body cream from Brazil and Ikebalum Nicholas Ogochukwu who excreted 36 wraps
of cocaine weighing 570 grammes on board the aircraft. Madu Michael Okey was
caught with 975 grammes of methamphetamine while going to Tanzania. Attempt by Nnadobe
Obiora Anthony to smuggle 335 grammes of methamphetamine to South Africa
failed. Okoye Kelvin was found smuggling 10.27kg of cannabis to Doha while the only
female suspect, Nwaokolo Gladys Omari was caught exporting 1.670kg of cocaine
to Madrid” Hamza stated.
In their
statements, the suspects gave various reasons why they got involved in drug
trafficking. Madu Michael Okey, 54 year old described himself as a novice in
drug trafficking. According to Madu, “I own a boutique in Nairobi, Kenya and I am
married with four children. My friend lured me into drug trafficking. This is
my first time and I was arrested due to my inexperience. I regret my action”. He
hails from Anambra State.
Nwaokolo
Gladys Omari, 32-year-old mother of three children said that she wanted to make
quick money but she was not lucky. “I buy and sell clothes. I lived in Spain
for about a decade. I came back to Nigeria because of financial hardship. I love
to go back to Spain and I do not have enough money. This was how I found myself
in drug trafficking. The most painful aspect of my arrest is that I told my
friend to look after my children for a few days. By my calculation, I thought I
could quickly smuggle the drugs to Spain and return within one week. I felt so
bad when the drug was detected at the airport” Gladys stated.
Ikebalum
Nicholas Ogochukwu, 31 year-old said that his problem started when he excreted
cocaine while on the flight. “I lost my father at the age of five and I have
been responsible for my upkeep long time ago. Last year, I struggled to travel
to Brazil hoping that I will get a good job. In fact, life has been difficult. I
later met a Brazilian who decided to assist me. He gave me cocaine and paid for
my ticket to Nigeria. He promised to pay me a million naira to start any
business of my choice. I was happy to return home and start up a business with
the money he will pay me but my problem began when I excreted the drugs while
on the flight. At the arrival hall, NDLEA detected the drugs in my luggage”
Ikebalum stated.
Nnodebe
Obiora Anthony, 32-years old said that a friend gave him a bag of foodstuff to
send to South Africa and he was arrested following the discovery of drugs in
the bag. In the words of Nnodebe who hails from Anambra State, “a friend gave
me a bag to send to South Africa. When I got to the Airport, eleven sachets of
methamphetamine were found inside the foodstuff. That was how I got involved. Now
I am suffering alone while my friend is on the run”.
Okoye
Kelvin Nnamdi, 37 years old said that he has no regret for his action. “I was
frustrated. When you are frustrated, you can do anything. I took a risk but I was
not lucky. Life is about taking risk. It is either you win or you lose. I have worked
and suffered as a casual labourer in Doha for two years and I was desperate to
change my status” Okoye stated.
Nwodo
Chidiebere Anthony, 28-years said that he resorted to drug trafficking after he
lost his shop to an inferno. “I used to sell clothes but I lost my goods in a fire
incident. This was what led me into drug trafficking. I was given liquid
cocaine inside body cream and they promised to pay me half a million naira to
mitigate my suffering” Nwodo who hails from Ebonyi State stated.
The
suspects will be charged to court soon.
Ofoyeju
Mitchell
Head,
Public Affairs
08034088136
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