The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday said it had apprehended a woman, Dorothy Onyekasi, for allegedly faking pregnancy at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, with 86 pellets of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine tied to her belly.
The NDLEA said the cocaine weighed 1.720kg with an estimated street value of N20.6m.
Onyekasi, a 41-year-old mother of three who hails from Enugu State, is a Junior Secondary School certificate holder.
According to the information obtained from the Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the anti-narcotics agency intercepted the drug during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates airline flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.), described recent drug seizures at the Lagos airport as capable of forcing drug cartels to a retreat.
He said, “In the past few days, the NDLEA has recorded numerous arrests and drug seizures at the Lagos airport. The drug cartels have also suffered huge losses from these operations. This particular suspect feigned pregnancy with wraps of cocaine but she was caught by vigilant narcotic agents.
“Some of the suspects recently apprehended concealed drugs in their socks and luggage, while others ingested wraps of cocaine in disregard of the danger to their health. In spite of their craftiness, we are daily stopping them from perpetrating their criminal act and forcing them to a retreat.”
The Commander, NDLEA, MMIA, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, said the wraps of cocaine would have been easily mistaken for pregnancy.
“It was discovered that the suspect kept 86 wraps of cocaine inside a waist bag, which was tied to her stomach. Fortunately, the drug was detected by NDLEA officers on her arrival from Dubai. The drug was immediately packed and weighed in her presence. It had a gross weight of 1.720kgs,” he said.
The suspect, said to be an importer of female bags and shoes from Dubai, was quoted as saying her involvement in drug trafficking was a mistake.
“I am a business woman living in Lagos. I am separated from my husband who left me with three children. I used to import female bags and shoes from Dubai. My involvement in drug trafficking is a mistake and I take responsibility for my action.
“I travelled to Dubai to buy my goods. While I was preparing to return, I met a man in Dubai who gave me the drug and promised to give me enough money to expand my business. He also told me that when I get to Nigeria, he will call his partner to collect the drug and give me my money.
“When I got here, the drug was detected at the airport and I was arrested. It is my entire fault. If only I was contented with the profit from the sales of my goods, I would not have been in this problem,” Onyekasi was quoted as saying.
The NDLEA said she would be charged to court soon.
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