By Uzor Odigbo
Officials of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested an illicit drug trafficker, Ibeh Kenneth Ejike at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for ingesting 87 wraps of cocaine.
A statement signed by the Agency’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made available to TheNiche says the 41-year-old suspect, who imports clothes for sale was arrested on Wednesday, 25th August 2021.
The statement reads in part; “Upon his arrival on board an Ethiopian Airline flight 911 from Kigali via Addis Ababa Ejike was arrested and taken in for a secondary check during which he tested positive for ingestion of the illicit substances. While under observation, he excreted 87 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.884 kilograms.”
In a similar case, a Lagos-based drug dealer, Eze Celestine Okorie, on his way to London, the United Kingdom, has been arrested at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja following the interception of 4.15kilograms of methamphetamine consignment.
“The drug was concealed in tins of tomato branded ‘sunripe’ and packaged for the driver of a freight forwarding company to deliver at the airport export shed for onward movement to the UK. Though the freight company’s driver was initially arrested, follow-up investigations and subsequent sting operation led to the arrest of the kingpin behind the consignment, Okorie, at his Coker, Surulere, Lagos home on Wednesday 25th August 2021.” The statement read.
The statement also noted that raids of drug joints are ongoing across the states. “In Cross River state, one Anietie Attauba was arrested at Idundu community with 9.9 grams of cocaine, while 23-year-old Joy Odey was picked at Nassarawa Bakoko Area of Calabar Municipality with 500grams of skunk.
On the same day, one Ugwuanyi Chukwujekwu Basil was arrested at AK Divine Park, Harbour Road, Calabar with 2.6kg of cannabis; 10.33grams of cocaine and 30ml of swinol.
In Abuja, operatives of the FCT Command of the Agency also intercepted a Hiace bus conveying bags of cannabis, and 30 parcels of skunk, cumulatively weighing 310kilograms along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway, where another 32kg of Tramadol was equally seized the same day.
In Anambra State, operatives also raided the Onitsha main market, Marine Line on Thursday 26th August with the support of soldiers. Recovered during the raid include 50kg of cannabis; 150grams of meth and 27.6grams of cocaine. One of the dealers, Moses Obiahu was arrested.”
While commending the resilience of the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Anambra, Cross River and FCT Commands of the Agency as shown by their latest arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd.) has charged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the ongoing offensive across Nigeria