NATIONAL NATIONAL News security

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Teabags

Written by Bunmi Abdulraheem

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has thwarted fresh attempts by Brazil-based drug cartels to smuggle Cocaine into Nigeria in teabags.

NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi in a statement, said the latest attempts were foiled at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport MMIA, Lagos.

Mr Babafemi explains that at least, four traffickers involved in the attempts to import and export illicit drugs through the country last week are now in the custody of the Agency.

He says one of them is a 33-year-old Pascal Ekene Okolo, who was arrested during an inward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo via Doha at the arrival hall of the NAIA on Sunday 17th April.

Okolo who claimed to be in the wine business in Brazil was arrested with a traveling bag containing different medicinal tea bags, which were used to conceal 4.1kilograms of cocaine.

The same day, a Canada-based Nigerian, Anigo Christian Godspower was intercepted at the D-Arrival Hall of the MMIA, Ikeja, during an inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways from Sao Paolo via Doha to Lagos.

When his luggage was searched, two blocks of Cocaine with a total weight of 2.10kg were discovered.

The 52-year-old Anigo claimed he operated an unregistered Bureau De Change business before delving into the illicit drug trade.

The bid by another cartel to export 950grams of Heroin concealed in the soles of a lady’s footwear through the MMIA cargo shed was equally foiled by anti-narcotic officers who have so far arrested two suspects linked to the crime.

Those arrested between the 16th and 17th of April in connection with an attempt to export the drug to Monrovia, Liberia include Idokoja Solomon Chukwurah and Patrick John Tochukwu.

RN