The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) command at the international wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos has apprehended four suspected drug traffickers bound for China, Indonesia and Qatar where drug trafficking carries death penalty.
The agency’s commander at the airport Mr. Ahmadu Garba gave the names of the suspects as Aniebue Peter Nnamma, 50; Sokpe Zubbye, aka Nzube Chukwudi, 37; Ugwuezumba Hyacinth Arinze, 38, and Obinna James Obi, 30.
He said Nnamma and Zubbye were going to China, while Arinze and Obi were going to Indonesia and Qatar respectively.
He said a total of 8.745 kilogrammes of drugs comprising 5.200 kilogrammes of cannabis, 1.415 kilogrammes of cocaine and 2.13 kilogrammes of methamphetamine was impounded from the suspects.
“Aniebue Peter Nnamma, 50, who sells clothes at Aswani Market Lagos, inserted 11 wraps of cocaine weighing 460 grammes into his anus while Sokpe Zubbye, 37, aka Nzube Chukwudi a freight forwarder from Anambra State with a Ghanaian passport ingested 955 grammes of cocaine. Both suspects were going to China.
“Ugwuezumba Hyacinth Arinze, 38, who deals in musical instrument at Alaba Market Lagos, was also caught with 2.130 kilogrammes of methamphetamine. Arinze ingested 36 wraps weighing 570 grammes and packed 1.560 kilogrammes in his luggage on his way to Indonesia.
“The other suspect, Obinna James Obi, 30, an aluminum fabricator in Umuahia whose destination is Doha, Qatar was found in possession of 5.2 kilogrammes of cannabis. All four suspects are under investigation and would be charged to court soon,” said Garba.
In his reaction, the chairman/chief executive of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd) expressed worry about the execution of Nigerians abroad over drug trafficking offences as well as the number of those on death roll.
“It is sad that the execution of those caught with drugs…has not deterred them. Many have died prematurely while others are daily counting down to their execution. This development has left their family members and friends in pains,” he said.
He advised drug couriers to “see beyond the transient monetary gains of narcotic trafficking and appreciate the fact that they are actually endorsing their death warrant.”
