Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, have arrested a 48-year-old man, Iloduba Augustine, who swallowed 58 pellets of cocaine.
Spokesman for the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi said in a statement that the suspect had excreted 48 pellets which were delivered to a Kenyan while on transit in Addis Ababa for a fee of N1 million.
He said Augustine was a passenger of Ethiopian Airline that arrived at the airport from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He added that the suspect was apprehended New Year’s Eve arrested and placed on observation during which he made the confession.
Babafemi also stated that the suspect continued his journey to Nigeria with the remaining 10 pellets in his stomach, which he (suspect) intended to sell in Lagos.
The remaining wraps of the illicit drug, according to Babafemi, were later excreted at 10.40am on January 1.
On other successes recorded, the NDLEA spokesman said, “In Niger State, 23-year-old Simon Richard, a 500 level student of the Department of Agric Economics and Extension, Federal University of Technology, Minna was arrested at Gidan Kwano Talba Road, Minna, with different quantities of loud and tramadol on January 6, while in Benue State, a 21-year-old lady, Shidoo Ben was arrested with 14 pinches of crack cocaine at Jada Hotel, Oturkpo on January 7. She traveled from Abuja to sell the drug in Benue. This is even as a raid in Jigbele Lota camp, Owo area of Ondo state led to the recovery of 598kg cannabis and the arrest of Chukwuemeka Azi on January 6
“In Ogun State, two suspects – Mrs. Ajoke Samuel, 60, and Ogundairo Taye, 37 – were arrested in Itaka and Odo Eran areas of Abeokuta North with different quantities of cannabis sativa, just as Ibrahim Adamu and Yahaya Mohammed were nabbed with 81kg cannabis along Ilorin-Jebba expressway on Tuesday January 4.
“In Plateau State, three siblings: Emmanuel Ngyang Jajoang; Timothy Ngyang Jajoang and Markus Ngyang Jajoang were arrested on Thursday January 6 at Kwakwi village, Riyom LGA with different quantities of cannabis and a locally made pistol.
“At least, two suspects, Sunny Daniel and Joseph Chukwube, were arrested in different parts of Rivers State with quantities of Methamphetamine; Heroin; Cannabis Sativa and Cocaine as well as N364, 500 cash on Thursday 6th Jan.
“In Delta State, NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers on Wednesday 5th Jan. raided a warehouse in Abbi town, Ndokwa West LGA, where two variants of cannabis; loud and skunk weighing 56.5kg believed to be imported from a neighbouring country as well as two suspects: Miss Lillian Echicheli and Collins Uzokwe were seized.”
Babafemi quoted the chairman/chief executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) as commending the officers and men of Edo, Enugu Airport, Niger, Ogun, Kwara, Plateau, Rivers, Ondo, Benue and Delta Commands as well as those of the directorate of operation and general investigations “for starting the new year with a strong message to drug cartels that the agency will not relent in its determination and efforts against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.”
