NDLEA SURVEILLANCE LEADS TO ARREST OF FOUR SUSPECTS

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) surveillance has led to the arrest of four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The arrests were recorded on Brazil-Nigeria route which has become notorious for cocaine smuggling. The suspects tested positive for cocaine ingestion and were placed under observation until the drugs were expelled.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspects ingested 171 wraps of cocaine weighing 4.19kg.  “The NDLEA has apprehended four suspected drug traffickers for ingesting 171 wraps of cocaine. One Ejiofor Eliezer, 46 years old ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.155kg. This is the highest single ingestion since January 2015. Obah Ifeanyi Francis, 30 years old ingested 40 wraps weighing 740 grammes while Akpa Cornelus Sobuzochukwu, 27 years old ingested 26 wraps weighing 445 grammes. Another suspect, Ike Vincent Okechukwu, 36 years old swallowed 5 wraps weighing 85 grammes” Hamza stated.

Ejiofor Eliezer and Obah Ifeanyi were caught during screening of passengers on an Emirates flight while Akpa Corlenus Sobuzochukwu and Ike Vincent Okechukwu were nabbed during screening of passengers on Qatar airline flight.

Ejiofor Eliezer who had lived in Brazil for two years attributed his involvement in drug trafficking to poverty. According to Ejiofor, “I live in Brazil where I work in a supermarket and I am married with four children. I attended Central School Ukpor. After my primary education, I could not study further due to lack of money. Life in Brazil is tough because I live from hand to mouth. I have no savings, in fact it was poverty that made me to smuggle drugs. I took risk by swallowing 100 wraps of cocaine for 200,000 naira because of poverty”. He hails from Nnewi, Anambra State.

 Obah Ifeanyi Francis said that he wanted to make quick money from cocaine trafficking but his friend disappointed him. “I am single and had been working in Brazil for two years. At present I work in a bakery and my salary is meagre. My plan was to give the drug to a friend in Dubai but he did not come to collect the drug as planned. This was how I had to come to Nigeria with the drug. I blame my friend for my arrest because I would have made 15,000 dollars from the deal” Obah stated. He hails from Anambra State.

Akpa Cornelus Sobuzochukwu who holds a diploma in accounting said that he was frustrated working as a cleaner with poor salary. “I hold a diploma in Accounting from Institute of Management Technology Enugu. I traveled to Brazil in search of better job but I ended up as a cleaner in a train station. My father is sick and I cannot afford return ticket to Nigeria let alone pay the hospital bill. I know I made a big mistake but I smuggled cocaine out of frustration. I would have been paid 1,500 dollars” Akpa stated.

Ike Vincent Okechukwu said that his arrest was a mistake from him. “My arrest was a miscalculation. I thought that the five wraps of cocaine will not be detected. I regret my involvement in drug trafficking. I dropped out of school in Junior Secondary School class two and I work in a toy company in Brazil” Ike stated. He hails from Anambra State.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade who said that Brazil-Nigeria route remains a high risk path has directed officers to remain vigilant at all times.

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

 

Ofoyeju Mitchell

Head, Public Affairs

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