By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted and arrested a suspected drug trafficker at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with two kilogrammes of heroin with a street market value of N564 million concealed in the false bottom of his suitcase.
In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday and seen by Business Post, it was disclosed that the 40-year-old suspect named Goodluck Odeh from Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo state was arrested at the departure lounge of the Abuja airport during an outward clearance of an Ethiopian aircraft 911 en route Abuja -Addis Ababa – Italy.
Under interrogation, the agency revealed that Mr Odeh claimed he has been living in Italy since 2015 when he got into the country through Libya.
He said he works as a labourer on a farm in Italy with a pay of about €50/day (50 Euro a day), adding that he also works as a flyer distributor when farming season is over and gets as much as €50 daily.
Mr Odeh claimed he came to Nigeria over two weeks ago to see his family in Nigeria and also used the same opportunity to buy foodstuffs to sell on his return to Italy.
He added that after spending some days between Edo and Delta states where he bought some foodstuffs, he equally travelled to Lagos to buy part of the foodstuff and bushmeat, which according to him is cheaper.
He, however, claimed he did not know how the drug found its way into the bag as he bought the suitcase from a second-hand material open market in Lagos not knowing that it contained the drug.
When further asked the market address, the suspect said he has no idea about the address.
He said he was accompanied to the market where he bought the suitcase by a man whom he claims he met on the day he arrived in Lagos from Benin, adding that he came into Abuja from Lagos for an onward trip to Italy.
According to the Commander, Abuja Airport Command of NDLEA, Mr Kabir Sani Tsakuwa, charges have already been filed against the suspect while further investigations continue to explore other leads on the case.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the anti-drug law enforcement agency, Mr Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the commander, officers and men of the Abuja airport for their vigilance.
“Wherever the criminal elements go to export or import illicit drugs through our borders, they will surely have the new NDLEA to contend with,” he said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka