PRESS RELEASE
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has again saved two Nigerians from the executioner’s sword in China and Malaysia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. Anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, apprehended four suspected drug traffickers in connection with unlawful importation and exportation of illicit drugs that tested positive for cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis with a total weight of 25.25kg.
Two of the drug suspects Okafor Chidimma Deburah, a 30-year-old professional dancer was going to Malaysia with 3.450kg of amphetamine hidden in jeans trouser while Utobo Prince Davies Chidiebere, 33-year-old trader was found with 17.800kg of cannabis hidden inside bitter leaf on his way to China. The remaining two suspects were arrested while returning from Brazil. They are; Nwachukwu Nwadi Victor, 45, found with 2.200kg of cocaine hidden inside a music player and Celestine Okoye Ugochukwu, 40, who hid 800 grammes of cocaine inside the handle of his luggage.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade called on stakeholders to treat drug control programmes as top priority since it involves life. “Let me make a passionate appeal to stakeholders to give priority attention to drug control because it has to do with life and death. The two suspects going to China and Malaysia would have died prematurely if not for the vigilance of officers. Besides, the lives of addicts who use the drugs are also endangered. We need public enlightenment because while we are intensifying narcotic checks what of those that took drugs from other countries. This is a serious challenge and we must contribute our quota” Giade stated.
NDLEA commander at the Enugu Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh said that all four arrests were made during routine checks. According to Udoh, “those arrested include a dancer, two traders and a factory worker. They were randomly intercepted during screening of Ethiopian Airline flights. The suspects have provided us with useful information for further investigation. The command will charge them to court soon”.
In her statement, Deburah who hails from Imo State said that she was promised the sum of 3,500 dollars. “I am a dancer. I was broke and needed money. I have been approached on many occasions to smuggle drugs but I turned down the proposal. They paid my return ticket and offered me 3,500 dollars. The drug was concealed in jeans trousers. I thought that I could earn some quick money in few days” Deburah stated.
Utobo Prince Davies Chidebere said that he needed money for the shipment of his goods from China to Nigeria. “I am a trader, I bought some goods but I have no money for the shipment. A friend in China told me that if I can smuggle cannabis to China, I can earn good money for the shipment of my goods and extra money for myself. I never knew that they will detect the drug because it was carefully hidden” Utobo who hails from Ebonyi States told investigators.
Nwachukwu Nwadi Victor, a factory worker in Brazil said that he bought drugs for ten thousand dollars in Brazil. “I am a factory worker in Brazil. I had family problem in Nigeria to settle so I decided to buy cocaine with 10,000 dollars. I would have made over 300 percent profits if I had succeeded in bringing the drugs. The drug was packed inside a music player, yet the officers detected it” Nwachukwu stated. He hails from Anambra State.
Celestine Okoye Ugochukwu had everything carefully planned but not good enough to go undetected. “I smuggled drugs because I needed money. The drug was hidden in the handle of my luggage. I am just unfortunate because I had a good plan. I do not know what went wrong but such is life” Celestine stated without remorse. He hails from Anambra State.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
