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Suspected drug traffickers, including two pregnant women, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, for allegedly attempting to import and export illicit drugs through the airport.
The agency picked up a Brazilian returnee, Nworie Chikwendu, who was arrested on Tuesday, May 3, during an inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, en route Doha to Lagos.
“During a thorough search of his luggage, two parcels of cocaine were discovered concealed in a pair of brown slippers hidden in his ox-blood backpack. A further search of the pair of black slippers worn by the suspect led to the recovery of additional two parcels of cocaine built into the soles of his footwear, bringing the total to four parcels weighing 800grams,” the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, while undergoing preliminary interview, Nworie, who claimed to be a barber in Sao Paulo, said he came to Nigeria for the burial of his father.
He reportedly confessed that he went into the criminal act because his trip was sponsored by his Brazil-based friend who gave him the drug to deliver in Lagos for a fee of N2m.
The statement added that on Wednesday, May 4, the NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the airport intercepted some cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to contain illicit drugs.
Babafemi said, “A freight agent who brought the consignment for export to Dubai, UAE, Shola Ogunrinde, was immediately arrested while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of a pregnant woman, Mrs Seun Babatunde, who operates an alcohol joint in the Pleasure area of Iyana Ipaja.
“When the cartons were opened in the presence of the agent and the pregnant owner, seven parcels of cannabis and a sachet of ecstasy drug (MDMA) were found concealed inside cans of black bullet alcoholic drinks. In her confession, Mrs Babatunde claimed the drugs were being sent to her husband who lives in Dubai.
“The second pregnant woman, Mrs Gloria Asibor, was arrested on Thursday, May 5, while attempting to board a Turkish Airline flight to Bolonia, Spain, via Istanbul, Turkey. A search of her luggage, containing food items, led to the discovery of 300 tablets of 200mg and 225mg high dosage tramadol concealed in crayfish.”
Meanwhile, large consignments of psychoactive substances were intercepted in parts of the North West, North East and North Central.
At least nine drug dealers were also arrested by operatives in Lagos on Thursday, May 5, during raids on black spots in Mushin Olosha, Akala, Langbasa, Ikota and Ajah areas of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis and skuchies recovered.
Source: Punch
