A widower, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde, and a divorcee, Silifat Tunrayo Akanbi, who were going for Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia have been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State for attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics.

The widower was arrested on Thursday, April, 20 at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos via Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday, April 23.

Babafemi revealed that four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive for cocaine weighing 11.50kg were discovered from the suspect after his carry-on bag was checked.

He noted that the suspect, who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner, said his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practice the process.

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He disclosed that the suspect was expected to be paid N1.8 million upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that the officers of the anti-drug agency at the Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport also arrested a divorcee, Akanbi, with 2.90kg cocaine during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, April 19.

Babafemi stated that a search of Akanbi’s hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.90kg concealed in ankara fabrics.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk clothes around the Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos.

“Based on information in her statement, a follow-up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday 20th April was carried out, during which the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency,” the NDLEA spokesman added.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers for the excellent job done, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to raise the bar of professionalism in the daily discharge of their responsibilities.

The Star