Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 47-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Mr Chigbogu Ernest Obiora, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement, the agency noted that Mr Obiora was subsequently put under observation during which he has so far excreted 97 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine with a total weight of 1.55 kilogrammes and a street value of N360 million.
He was arrested at about 1:16 pm on Sunday, April 25, 2021, during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline. He arrived in Lagos on board the airline from Entebbe, Uganda via Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the anti-drug law enforcement agency, Mr Ahmadu Garba, “Obiora was intercepted in the E-arrival hall of the airport by the operatives of NDLEA on suspicion that he ingested drug substance.
“The suspect was taken for a body machine scan and the result was positive for ingestion of a substance suspected to be an illicit drug. The suspect was promptly moved to the NDLEA excretion/ observation facility.”
According to the agency, barely an hour after he was arrested, Mr Obiora excreted 31 wraps of cocaine weighing 500 grammes and another 47 wraps (750 grammes) in the evening of the same day while 19 warps (300 grammes) were excreted the following day, Monday, April 26, bringing the total to 97 wraps, that is, 1.55 kilogrammes.
Under interrogation, Mr Obiora claimed he was promised $1,500 if he successfully trafficked the drug, adding that he opted for the deal because he needed money.
“I did it so that I will be capable of feeding my family. I was living in Madagascar but due to the COVID-19 and the lockdown in the country, I couldn’t go back to my place of work.
“There was a time I started lacking money to feed my family and to pay my children’s school fees and the worst part of it is to pay my rent. So, I decided to take the option to do it.”
He said he never knew he could be arrested while stating that he has never met the real owner of the drug. “I don’t know him, they contacted me on phone and asked if I can do the business”, he claimed.
Meanwhile, in continuation of efforts to dismantle all drug spots in Ondo State, the state Command of the agency has raided two joints, arrested two dealers, and seized 80.2 kilogrammes of scrunchies, while four hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed in the Eleyewo area of Akure south local government.
The acting Commander of the NDLEA in the state, Callys Alumona said a lady, 31-year-old Ibukunoluwa Kemi, and a 25-year-old young man, Oluwaseun Sunday were arrested with 78 kilogrammes and 2.2 kilogrammes of scrunchies respectively.
According to the agency, both were nabbed in different areas of Akure south in the state capital.
