NDLEA ARRESTS TRICYCLE RIDER, 3 OTHERS

A commercial tricycle rider is among four suspected drug traffickers apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The suspects were apprehended at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu while attempting to smuggle 8.876kg of various narcotic drugs to India, Turkey, Hong Kong and China. Two of the suspects were found to have concealed illicit drugs in their luggage while the other two ingested the drugs found on them.

NDLEA commander at the Enugu Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh said that all the suspects are being investigated. According to Nsikak “the name of the suspects are Samuel Rapuruchukwu Anele, a tricycle rider caught with 4.892kg of methamphetamine on his way to Bombay, India. Another suspect, Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu was caught with 1.293kg of cocaine on his way to Istanbul, Turkey. Ukaeji Eric Tochukwu was found with 1.408kg of cocaine on his way to Hong Kong while Nwoye Ekene Godfrey was caught with 1.283kg of cannabis which he had wanted to smuggle to Guangzhou, China. The suspects are helping our team of investigators”.

Samuel Rapuruchukwu Anele, 45 years old Tricycle Rider from Ichi village, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State hid 4.892kg of methamphetamine. The drug was concealed in false bottom of his luggage. His travel route is Enugu- Addis Ababa- Bombay, India on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The suspect said that he was promised a million naira to set up his own business. “I am a commercial tricycle rider. Life is not fair to me. Every day it is one problem after another and the money I earn is not enough. It was frustration that made me to smuggle drugs. They promised me that the drug has been properly hidden and that when I return they will pay me the sum of one million naira. At the airport, my bag was searched and the drug detected. Now I am now left alone to suffer” he stated.

Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu 31 year old hails from Ezioko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. He ingested 1.293kg of substances that tested positive for cocaine. He was to depart Enugu to Istanbul through Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airline flight. His reason for trafficking in drugs was to raise more money for his business.

Emmanuel, a Secondary School drop-out would have received 3,000 dollars on arrival in Turkey. He is married with a child.

Ukaeji Eric Tochukwu, 43 year old from Ajali in Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra State ingested cocaine weighing 1.408 kilograms. His route is Enugu - Addis Ababa - Hong Kong on an Ethiopian Airline. Ukaeji said that he wanted to raise money for his business and the treatment of his sick daughter. “I used to buy clothes from Hong Kong. I am married with three children. I dropped out of school in Junior Secondary class 3. They promised to pay me 5,000 dollars on delivery in Hong Kong which I would have used to buy goods” he stated.

Nwoye Ekene Godfrey, a 38-year-old from Ukpommili Village in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State was caught with 1.283kg of cannabis sativa hidden inside garri on his way to Guangzhou, China. The suspect said that he too wanted to sell the cannabis in China and use the proceeds to buy goods. He is single.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency shall continue to step up security checks at the nation’s entry and exit points.