NDLEA: Two Suspected Drug Traffickers Arrested in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two suspects with drugs hidden in packs of tin tomato and in their anus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on their way from Brazil and to South Africa.

According to a statement by NDLEA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the first suspected drug trafficker was caught with substances that tested positive for cocaine on his way from Brazil.

The drug, packed in six wraps and weighing 120 grammes, was inserted into his anus.

The second suspect was attempting to export a consignment containing 1.860kg of methamphetamine sealed in tin tomato paste to South Africa when he was arrested.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba who gave the names of the suspects as Ikeh Maxwell Obumneme, 40, and Nwakpo Tochukwu Akumma, 27, said that the suspects targeted the festive period to smuggle drugs.

Garba said that intelligence report received by the Agency indicated that the suspects specifically targeted the festive season to smuggle their drugs.

Ikeh, who inserted cocaine in his anus from Sao Paulo through Dubai on Emirates flight, was caught on arrival while Nwakpo’s methamphetamine was meant for export to South Africa on South Africa airways flight.

Ikeh, who hails from Oji River in Enugu State, told NDLEA officials that this was his first time of dealing in drugs.

“I am married with a child and live in Lagos. I sell children diapers and clothes but travelled to Brazil two months ago expecting to buy my goods at a cheaper price. In the process, I decided to smuggle 120 grammes of cocaine for monetary gains,” he stated.

Nwakpo, an automobile parts dealer at Ladipo market, Lagos confessed to be assisting a friend in sending a consignment of foodstuffs to South Africa.

- PUNCH