The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two Europe-based Nigerian ‘businessmen’ who flew home on holiday and attempted to return to Paris, France with their bellies loaded with cocaine.
A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja said the suspects were arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Babafemi said that the duo were intercepted on Wednesday during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 832 from Abuja to Paris.
He said that both men have excreted a total of 200 wraps of the class A drug weighing 3.460 kilograms.
“The first suspect, who claims to live in France where he works in a factory, had arrived in Nigeria for a short holiday on October 21.
“He was, however, arrested by NDLEA operatives on his return flight a few days after when he was subjected to a body scan, which confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach.
“Under interview, he admitted to having ingested 110 pellets of cocaine. He was placed under observation during which he excreted all 110 wraps, which tested positive for cocaine with a total weight of 1.901 kilograms.
“On the same flight, his co-traveller was also nabbed by NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the Abuja airport.
“His body scan likewise returned positive for ingestion, while he confessed to having swallowed 90 pellets of cocaine.
“Under observation, he excreted all 90 wraps, which tested positive for the class A drug after each excretion and weighed a total of 1.559 kilograms,” he said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja–Kaduna expressway have arrested a woman at the toll gate with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.
Also, on the Zaria–Kano expressway, a 68-year-old man was arrested at Gwargwaje, Zaria, with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.
“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
“These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Obawole Grammar School 11, Ojodu, Lagos;
“Also, Nsukka High School, Nsukka, Enugu; Government Technical College, Dorayi Babba Rijiyar Zaki, Gwale LGA, Kano; and Ajagbe Comprehensive High School, Iperu, Ogun state, among others.”
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the officers and men of NAIA and Lagos Commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa noted that the interception of the two cocaine couriers at Abuja airport was a fresh warning to those who think they can use their residence abroad as cover to traffic drugs across Nigerian borders.
He said the agency’s officers at all entry and exit points remain alert, and that there was no hiding place for anyone who chooses to risk their life and liberty by ingesting illicit drugs for a fee.
He also charged officers and men of the agency across the country to sustain the current tempo against drug cartels while not relenting in their drug demand reduction efforts.
This, he said, including WADA sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
