There was a mild drama at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) when a suspect the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested with 7.1 kg of methamphetamine worth over N2bn became unruly and asked the officers to go after corrupt politicians.
Aniede Chimezie Bright, the suspect, was arrested on Sunday during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air Maroc flight heading to Spain.
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The illicit drugs were neatly concealed in food spices and a Swiss polo suitcase.
The suspect, who is said to have lived in Spain for 18 years, has a residency permit of the European country.
However, when he was paraded before journalists he became aggressive, refusing to answer questions posed to him on what led him into such illegality.
Instead, he flared up, asking if the politicians accused of corruption have been arrested or charged to court.
“There is no road, there is no common water. Nobody is saying anything. You people are not doing your work.
“Where are the politicians? Look at the country we are living in, you guys are not doing your work. Have you gone to Aso Rock?”
Asked what he led him into carrying the substance, he said, “I don’t know about it. I was just tricked into it. When I get to the court, I will explain to the judge.”
The Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, said, “Unarguably, the closure of borders occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the surge in the price of these drugs. For instance, the price of meth in Australia had increased from 200 dollars to 600 dollars per gramme due supply cut, hence the desperation by the traffickers and barons alike.”
In a related development, the Command equally arrested one Asonye Christian, a trader at Ladipo market in Lagos who sent a package containing 800 grammes of cannabis sativa cleverly concealed in foodstuff.
The package was to be delivered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The NDLEA operatives had initially arrested a cargo agent working at the SAHCO export shed inside the airport before Christian, who was said to have delivered the bag, was nabbed.
Speaking with journalists, the 30-year-old Christian said the bag was handed over to him by a friend who did not disclose the content of the bag.