The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two pregnant women and a barber at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos for attempting to import and export illicit drugs into the country through the airport.
The barber, a Brazilian returnee identified as Nworie Phillip Chikwendu, was arrested on Tuesday, May 3 during an inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil en route Doha to Lagos.
This was disclosed via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi stated that during a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage, two parcels of cocaine were discovered concealed in a pair of brown slippers hidden in his ox blood backpack.
He noted that a further search of the pair of black slippers worn by the suspect also led to the recovery of additional two parcels of cocaine built into the soles of his footwear, bringing the total to four parcels weighing 800grams.
The NDLEA spokesperson disclosed that Nworie who claimed to be a barber in Sao Paulo, when undergoing preliminary interview, said he came to Nigeria for the burial of his father.
“He confessed he decided to get into the criminal act because his trip was sponsored by his Brazil-based friend who gave him the drug to deliver in Lagos for a fee of N2, 000, 000,” Babafemi stated.
He added: “The following day, Wednesday 4th May, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport intercepted some cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to contain illicit drugs.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: NDLEA intercepts N1.1bn travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg cocaine at Lagos airport
“A freight agent who brought the consignment for export to Dubai, UAE, Shola Ogunrinde was immediately arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Seun Babatunde, who operates an alcohol joint in the Pleasure area of Iyana Ipaja.
“When the cartons were opened in the presence of the agent and the pregnant owner, seven parcels of cannabis and a sachet of ecstasy drug (MDMA) were found concealed inside cans of black bullet alcoholic drinks.
“In her confession, Mrs. Babatunde claimed the drugs were being sent to her husband who lives in Dubai.
“The second pregnant woman, Mrs. Gloria Asibor, was arrested on Thursday 5th May while attempting to board a Turkish Airline flight to Bolonia, Spain via Istanbul, Turkey.
“A search of her luggage containing food items led to the discovery of 300 tablets of 200mg and 225mg high dosage Tramadol concealed in crayfish,” the NDLEA spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has commended anti-narcotic officers for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged the NDLEA operatives across the country to sustain the heat on drug cartels as well as balance their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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