Two suspected drug traffickers have excreted a total of 165 wraps of cocaine following their arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The suspects, who are accused of ingesting the illicit drug, are Elvis Uche Iro, 53 and Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, 42.
They reportedly excreted the drugs while under observation in the custody of the NDLEA.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement that 53-year-old Elvis, who is a father of four children, hails from Abiriba, Ohafia local government area of Abia state.
He was arrested on Saturday March 19 upon his arrival on board an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Addis-Ababa, accused of ingesting 65 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.376kg.
Mr Babafemi said Elvis, during preliminary interview, had claimed to be an interior decorator but had to go into drug trafficking because he needed money to start a coffee business, take care of his family and stock his newly-acquired shop with curtain materials/accessories in Lagos.
He also claimed that he would have been paid $1,000-US on successful delivery of the drug in Abuja.
The second suspect, another passenger on the same flight, Uwaezuoke, was also arrested on arrival for ingesting 100 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 2.243kg.
Uwaezuruokek who hails from Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state, claimed to be a businessman dealing in baby wares before venturing into drug trafficking.
During preliminary interview, Uwaezuruoke said he traveled to Addis Ababa on Thursday, March 17 to buy the drug for $10,000-US and returned on Saturday, March 19, when he was arrested.
According to the suspect, he sold his land in his village and took loans from friends that enabled him to gather money to buy the drug.
He also claimed he was compelled to peddle in hard drugs because he needed to raise money for his business after he had been duped of $15,000-US by a China-based friend of his.
RN
