Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have discovered cocaine industrially concealed inside ceramics meant for interior decoration as well as buttons. The discovery was made at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos when officers broke the ceramic ornaments. Two suspected drug traffickers who were arrested in connection with the illegal import from Brazil said that they could not resist the offer made to them by their sponsors.
According to the NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar the suspects that imported the narcotics are Ogbonna Chukwuemeka Moses, 38 years old and Otum Godgive Osundu, 45 years old. In his words, “both suspects were found to have concealed cocaine in their luggage on their way from Brazil. Ogbonna Chukwuemeka had 1.435kg of cocaine hidden in ceramics and buttons while Otum Godgive packed 1.180kg of cocaine also in ceramics. They have given us useful information and investigation is in progress”.
Ogbonna who hails from Enugu State had lived in Brazil for two years. He said that he was asked to bring samples of the ceramics and buttons to Nigeria for marketing. “I am married to a Brazilian woman who is pregnant for me. I agreed to bring the drugs because I need money to take care of my pregnant wife. They promised to pay me 10,000 dollars. It was a good offer and I had planned to use the money to take care of my family” Ogbonna stated.
Otum Godgive who had lived in Brazil for five years said that he needed the money to settle down in Nigeria with his wife and four children. “I went to Brazil in search of greener pastures since 2007. I have tried my best but life has been difficult. They promised to pay me one million naira and I agreed to bring the drugs. I did not imagine that the drug will be detected but unfortunately the officers broke the ceramics and found the drug” he stated. He hails from Abia State.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency is prepared to uncover the tricks drug barons adopt in smuggling drugs. “The Agency is prepared to uncover various tricks that drug barons adopt in concealing drugs. This seizure will serve as a warning to the cartels that they are running out of tricks” Giade stressed.
The suspects will soon be charged to court.
