Few weeks after officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered 5.9kg of abandoned cocaine inside industrial equipment, another cocaine shipment has been abandoned at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The cocaine which weighed 4.6kg was hidden inside flasks packed with baby items. Like the first consignment, it originated from Panama, Central America on board a KLM flight.
The Agency also arrested four suspected drug traffickers who were found with narcotics. A total seizure of 12.455kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of 137 million naira was made. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade disclosed that the abandoned cocaine and other arrests have shown that drug traffickers are having difficulties bringing in their drugs into the country.
“No drug cartel will abandon drugs knowing how much the drugs cost. Narcotics are very expensive and for drug traffickers to abandon their drugs shows the level of security alertness at the nation’s entry points. The two abandoned cocaine seizures came from Panama. Both shipments are being investigated and we hope to get those that are behind the importation.” Giade stated. The NDLEA boss also tasked anti-narcotic operatives to remain vigilant as ever and detect more drugs in the days ahead.
According to the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, the names of the four suspects are Onwuegbuaku Okechukwu Anselm, 35, Ifediora Romanus Obunike, 26, Ohaebosun Nickolas, 28, and Nwabueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu, 31. “The abandoned cocaine seizure weighing 4.6kg was hidden inside flasks. Four suspects were also caught attempting to import various quantities of cocaine into the country. They are Onwuegbuaku Okechukwu Anselm, who was found with 1.510kg, Ifediora Romanus Obunike, had 1.070kg, Ohaebosun Nickolas found with 2.175kg and Nwabueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu who had 3.100kg in his possession. In all, we seized a total of 12.455kg” Hamza stated.
The suspects who are currently being questioned by anti-narcotic investigators have attributed their involvement to the financial offers made to them by Barons. Apart from Ohaebosun Nickola that sells ladies clothes in Dakar Senegal, other suspects are traders based in Nigeria. Onwuegbuaka Okechukwu Anselm sells shirts at Onitsha said that he would have been handsomely rewarded for bringing the drugs into the country. “I am a petty trader in Onitsha. I sell shirts to earn a living. They bought my return ticket and promised to give me money for my business”.
Ifediora Romanus Obunike told investigators that he was promised the sum of 200,000 to bring in the drugs. “I sell phone accessories at Onitsha. My involvement is a temptation because I have financial difficulties and I needed money that was how I agreed to smuggle the drugs. They offered me the sum of 200,000 naira and took care of all travel expenses” Ifediora stated.
Ohaebosun Nickolas who resides in Senegal said that he needed money to relocate his business back to Nigeria. “I wanted to come back to Nigeria and start a new life. I lived in Senegal for seven months. My condition of living is such that I was in dire need of financial help. I saw the drug deal as my opportunity of starting my dying business again” Ohaebosun stated.
Nwanbueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu who sells phone accessories said that he regretted his action. “I am very sad over my involvement in drug trafficking. I sell phone accessories in Lagos Island. I was tempted by the monetary offers, and now I have been caught on my first drug trafficking trip” he lamented. Apart from Anselm that hails from Imo State, other suspects are natives of Anambra State.
The suspects will be charged to court soon.
