The suspects were apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos for the unlawful possession of 10.255kgs of narcotics hidden in a sack of Garri and their luggage.
Two of the drug suspects were coming from Brazil with cocaine wile
three others were going to South Africa, Dubai and Pakistan when they
were arrested. Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport
while speaking on their arrest said , “26 year old student Okonkwo
Daniel Anagor, was caught with 2.810kgs of Tramadol on his way to Dubai.
Lawal Monsuru Ademola, 33 year old trader was arrested with 3.310kgs of
methamphetamine on his way to South Africa while Ogbonna Donatus
Chigozie was caught attempting to smuggle 610 grammes of cocaine to
Pakistan.
Two other suspects, Okoro Chibueze Augustine and Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi
were caught with 2.575kgs and 950 grammes of cocaine from Brazil”. One
of the suspects, Okonkwo David Anagor who hails from Ayamelum Local
government area of Anambra state, said
“I was travelling to Dubai to spend holiday and further my
studies but they called me from Dubai that somebody will give me garri
in Lagos. When I got to Lagos, the person called me and gave me the bag
of garri. This is my first time of travelling outside the country. At
the airport, the garri was searched and 445 sachets of Tramadol were
found inside the bag. That was how I was arrested”. He hails from
Ayamelum local government area of Anambra State.
Another suspect, Lawal Monsuru Ademola, is a trader selling clothes
at Marina Lagos. He holds a diploma in Computer Installations and
Repairs at the Lagos State Polytechnic.His journey to South Africa was
aborted as 3.310kgs of crystalline substance which tested positive for
methamphetamine was found in his possession. The drug was neatly packed
in 26 parcels in a false bottom of his luggage. Similarly, Ogbonna
Donatus Chigozie was nabbed with 610 grammes of cocaine while attempting
to board an Emirate flight to Pakistan. Another suspect, Okoro Chibueze
Augustine who hails from Imo state, was expecting to be paid N2.5
million described his arrest as a bad luck. In his words,
“I have lived in Brazil for a year and six months I have suffered
trying to make ends meet in Brazil. I got involved in drug trafficking
so as to start legitimate business. I expected to have made N2.5 million
from the deal. Unfortunately, my partner who would have collected the
drug in Dubai failed to show up so I had to come to Nigeria with the
drug. That was not the original plan. This is a bad luck and I feel so
sad”.
Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi, an indigene in Enugu, who had lived in Brazil
for a year said that he came to Nigeria for his traditional marriage
ceremony.
“I work in a restaurant in Brazil. I am 39 years old and I
sincerely want to get married and have a family. In the process of
trying to make more money, I was given 59 wraps of cocaine to take to
Nigeria for N400,000 naira. Now I realized I have made a big mistake. I
pray my woman will find a place in her heart to forgive me. I feel I am
under a spell” he stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade while reacting
to the recent arrests called on Nigerians to shun drug trafficking and
promote peaceful coexistence.
“Some of the lessons of Eid el Kabir are obedience and love. Let
us love one another and obey the laws of the land by avoiding drug
trafficking and abuse. This way we can promote safety and peaceful
coexistence”.
All five suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
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