The suspected drug trafficker who broke through a glass wall
at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja has told officials of
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that he was not under any influence
of drugs and that he was only trying to evade arrest. The suspect Michael
Nwobodo who ran through a glass wall at the Abuja airport on Monday after being
found with drugs is currently receiving medical attention. He was found with eighty-one
(81) suspected pellets of hard drugs that tested positive for cocaine with a
total weight of 1.350kgs.
Michael Nwobodo made a spectacle of himself by breaking
through a glass wall all in a bid to escape from lawful custody. The thirty-one
year-old technician was immediately apprehended. He concealed 81 wraps of
cocaine in Parker Whisky packs along with boxes of chocolates inside a duty
free bag. The seizure was made during screening of passengers on an Emirates
airline flight from Dubai.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said
that the suspect was taken to the hospital for further medical test on Tuesday.
“Though the suspect was treated for the injuries he sustained while attempting
to escape on Monday, we had to take him for medical examination again. This is
to ensure that he is strong and medically fit to undergo trial. Investigation has
commenced into the case” Hamisu stated.
The suspect told investigators that he ran away because he
was afraid of arrest. “I am not under the influence of drugs. I was only scared
of arrest. I live and work in Dubai. I came to Nigeria for my father’s burial
but decided to bring the drugs because I needed money for the burial rite. When
the drug was discovered, I felt so disappointed and confused. I was ashamed of
myself and never wanted to be associated with drug trafficking that was why I had
to run”. He hails from Enugu State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha
Abdallah rtd assured stakeholders that no criminal will escape justice. “The Agency
will continue to work very hard in ensuring that drug traffickers are arrested
and prosecuted. As we advance the frontiers of the war against drug cartels, we
are prepared to adopt new and sophisticated strategies in winning this important
fight. I am pleased with this arrest and I thank the officers and members of
the airport community for their support” Abdallah stated. He also urged members
of the public to be vigilant and report suspected drug barons to the Agency.
This is the second case of a suspect creating a scene at the Abuja
airport in less than four weeks. The first was a 48 year-old woman, Saidat
Hassan that allegedly vomited 15 wraps of white, powdery substances that tested
positive for cocaine. The mother of three was arrested at the central
screening section of the departure hall during outward screening of passengers
on an Egypt Airline flight to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, en-route Cairo. She also ingested
80 wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes.
Michael Nwobodo will soon be charged to court.
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