PRESS RELEASE
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a suspect described as a specialist in drug concealment. The suspect who has been on the Agency’s wanted list was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos during screening of passengers on an Etihad flight. He departed Sao Paulo, Brazil with 2.605kg of cocaine disguised as candies.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar said that the suspect, Onyejiaju Chukwuemeka Augustine, 52, unlawfully possessed cocaine. “We made a shocking discovery of 2.605kg of cocaine carefully and neatly packed as candies. The suspect, Onyejiaju has been arrested and currently under investigation in connection with unlawful possession of cocaine” Hamza stated.
Onyejiaju owns a supermarket in Sao Paulo which he uses as a cover for his illicit drug activities. He hails from Urualla, Imo State. He has owned up to the crime and will be charged to court soon. “I own and manage a supermarket in Brazil where I had lived since 2006. I bought the cocaine and concealed it as candies. It is just unfortunate that the cocaine was found in my bag” Onyejiaju stated without remorse.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade described the arrest a reward for the Agency’s protracted surveillance. “This significant arrest is an indication that the Agency is making remarkable progress in undercover operations. The suspect has been under surveillance for some years following his alleged role in illicit drug concealment for drug mules” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss added that other suspects on the Agency’s watch list shall soon be brought to justice.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs,
