The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested four drug couriers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to export narcotics with a total weight of 8.8kg to different countries.
One of the suspects, Aniebue Nnamma (50), a clothier at the Aswani Market Lagos, inserted eleven wraps of cocaine weighing 460g in his anus.
A statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said a second suspect, Nzube Chukwudi (37) from Anambra State, who was travelling on a Ghanaian passport with the name, Sokpe Zubbye, ingested 955g of cocaine.
Both Nnamma and Chukwudi were travelling to China, a country with a law that prescribes a death penalty for drug traffickers.
A 38-year-old musical instrument trader at the Alaba International Market, Lagos, Ugwuezumba Arinze, was apprehended with 2.130kg of methamphetamine, which he ingested. He was on his way to Indonesia.
The NDLEA said the fourth suspect, Obinna Obi (30), an aluminium fabricator from Umuahia, Abia State, had in his possession 5.2kg of Indian hemp destined for Doha, Qatar.
Nnamma blamed his involvement in drug trafficking on financial troubles.
He explained that he initially considered ingesting the drugs but feared for his life.
“I was afraid of swallowing the drug so I inserted the drugs in my anus. I was afraid it might burst in my stomach. Poor patronage in my business and family problems turned me into a pauper. But now I regret everything,” he said.
Chukwudi on the other hand, said he was promised N1m to smuggle the drug.
According to him, he worked in China as a freight forwarder.
He said the recession in Nigeria made it difficult for him to pay his bills and could not resist the lure of drug trafficking.
“Since I live in China, I felt it would be easy for me to go through security checks but unfortunately I was caught,” he said.
Obi explained that he had nothing to do with the hemp that was found in his possession.
According to him, he was an unwitting drug mule.
“My friend gave me a bag to deliver to Doha but during the screening of passengers, NDLEA officials discovered Indian hemp inside it,” he said.
All four suspects are under investigation as the agency said they would be charged to court soon.
The Chairman of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said drug couriers must see beyond the monetary gains of drug trafficking as they might be courting death.
Abdallah has promised that the agency’s men would remain watchful in intercepting drugs and apprehending traffickers at all entry and exit points.
No comments:
Post a Comment