NDLEA/PUBAF/074/ VOL. V /368 October 30, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have discovered 14.650kg of high grade Brazilian cocaine hidden inside female foot wears and laptop bags. Three suspected drug traffickers have been apprehended by the narcotic control Agency for smuggling the drugs from Brazil through Abu Dhabi. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is about 131 million naira.
NDLEA Airport commander, Hamza Umar gave the names of the suspects as Ezenna Chinonso Joseph, Agu Ifeanyi Kingsley and Okoye Israel. According to Hamza, “Ezenna Chinonso Joseph was found with 11.330kg of cocaine, Agu Ifeanyi Kingsley had in his possession 1.650kg while Okoye Israel was found with 1.670kg. The total quantity of cocaine seized from the three suspects is 14.650kg”.
The suspects during interrogation also revealed how they would have been paid the sum of four million, one hundred thousand naira to smuggle cocaine by their sponsors. Two of the suspects, Agu Ifeanyi Kingsley and Okoye Israel that hid the cocaine inside laptop bags were promised eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira each. They were apprehended during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, Abu Dhabi.
The third suspect Ezenna Chinonso Joseph boarded a Qatar flight also from Dubai with 11.330kg of cocaine hidden in soles of female foot wears. In his statement, Ezenna who is 28 years old told narcotic investigators that he was promised the sum of 2.5 million by his sponsors. According to him, “I am married and my wife is pregnant. I used to manage a boutique until I lost everything. Out of frustration, I travelled to Brazil in search of employment. I smuggled the drugs for 2.5 million naira. My intention was to settle down and invest the drug proceeds in any legitimate business”. He hails from Anambra State.
Agu Ifeanyin Kingsley, 30 years old said he lost his father and needed money for the funeral. “I sell clothes at Aba market. I travelled to Brazil in April 2014 because my business was almost liquidating. The few months I spent in Brazil were even worse than here in Nigeria. While in Brazil, my father died and I had no money for my flight ticket. Bringing cocaine to Nigeria was my last hope of making some money. They promised to pay me eight hundred thousand naira” Agu stated. He hails from Enugu State.
Okoye Israel Emeka said that he too was promised the sum of eight hundred thousand naira to smuggle cocaine to Nigeria. “I am from a poor family. I dropped out of school in primary 4 due to lack of sponsorship. I work in a Bakery in Brazil. My salary is too meager that I live from hand to mouth. They promised me the sum of eight hundred thousand naira to smuggle cocaine. I am single and need to settle down” Okoye stated. He hails from Anambra State.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade in his reaction said that arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers is a continuous exercise until the country is completely free of illicit drugs.
The suspects will soon be charged to court.
