Two suspected drug traffickers have been caught at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos for concealing 2.560kg of cocaine in their travel luggage by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The suspects, Emole Kennedy Uka, 32, was found with 1.335kg while Obi Ezenwa Tochukwu, 31,? was found with 1.225kg of narcotics. They were arrested by officials NDLEA while attempting to board a Turkish Airline flight to Turkey.
NDLEA MMIA Commander, Mr Hamza Umar said that officers had to forcefully break the luggage to recover the drugs. “Searching for drugs these days is a serious business. In this case, we had to forcefully break open the bag in order to discover the drugs. Both suspects were arrested on same flight and they adopted same mode of concealment” Hamza stated.
Uka who lives in Togo said that he smuggled drugs because he needed money for medical treatment. He hails from Abia State and would have been paid $4,000.
“I am a trader in Togo. I sell shirts. This is my first time of dealing in drugs. I have a heart problem and I needed money for medication,” Uka stated.
Tochukwu, who hails from Nnewi in Anambra State, said he needed money for his marriage.
“I wanted to marry and settle down. I am a 2008 graduate of Business Administration at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). The person I met for financial assistance towards my marriage introduced me into drug trafficking. The drug was hidden in the bag and they promised to pay me $3,000. Unfortunately, I was arrested” Obi lamented.
NDLEA chairman, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to be part of the anti-drug campaign.
“We are prepared to give our best but let me also appeal to members of the public to join in the crusade to stop drug trafficking,” he stated.
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