The National Drug Law Enforcement Agencyโs (NDLEA) scanning machine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja had detected two suspected drug traffickers. The suspects during interrogation reportedly told narcotic investigators that they were advised to use Abuja Airport because of the attention on Lagos airport over ace actor and comedian Babatunde Omidina also known as Baba Suwe who has been under observation of the Agency.
According to the NDLEA Abuja Airport commander, Alhaji Hamisu Lawan gave the names of the suspects as Nnoli Valentine, 41 and Onyegbuna Patrick 25. Nnoli is a Nigerian based in Berlin, Germany ingested 99 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.6kg. He was arrested while attempting to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam. The second suspect Onyegbuna Patrick ingested 67 wraps of substances that that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.250kg. Onyegbuna was caught returning from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The commander also faulted their permutation as the Agency has scanning machines in all the international airports in the country. โWe are prepared to stop drug traffickers at the Abuja airport. All our airports are equally equipped with the 3D scanning machines and it was a wrong calculation by the suspects to have opted for Abuja airport. This arrest will serve as a warning that it is difficult for them to smuggle drugs hereโ Hamisu stated.
Nnoli who is married to a German woman with two children works in a restaurant in Berlin. The suspect who would have been given 5,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the drug said that he was stranded after a visit to his home town in Anambra State. โI was stranded after spending some time with my family in Anambra State. A friend I contacted to assist me with money to buy ticket lured me into drug trafficking with a promise of 5,000 Euros. They gave me the drug in a Lagos hotel and told me to go through Abuja airport and that there will be no problem. Unfortunately, I was arrested. I regret my involvement in drug traffickingโ he lamented.
Similarly, Onyegbuna who sells footwear in Onitsha, Anambra State said that he was moved to indulge in drug trafficking to save his fatherโs life. โMy father is very sick and I cannot watch him die. My mother is dead and I must do my best to protect my father. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. I was promised the sum of 4,000 dollars and my travel expenses paid to Brazil to smuggle the drugs to Nigeria. They also asked me to return through the Abuja airport. I am deeply sad over the incidentโ he stated. He hails from Anambra State.
Both suspects will soon be charged to court.
