NDLEA seals 2 boutiques, arrests 4 with N23m worth of heroin

NDLEA commander at the Murtalla Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Alhaji Hamza Umar, gave the names of the arrested suspects to include Andrew Omoigui, 38, Monday Paul Edeh, 38 a.ka. Molue, Chidi Ugbaja, 33, and Marcel Chibueze Udeze, 36. He said the agency’s preliminary findings have linked the suspects to a notorious drug trafficking cartel operating in the country with affiliates in Pakistan.

“Our investigations so far also revealed that the suspected kingpin of the drug syndicate, Marcel Chibueze Udeze was deported from China twice. He conspired with Chidi Ugbaja who once lived in China and Monday Paul Edeh to import the drug. Andrew was said to have demanded the sum of one million naira to clear the goods having been told that the consignment contained heroin. The money was however paid into his bank account. Andrew is a senior clearing and forwarding agent with over 14 years experience. Other members of the cell operate a boutique business as a cover-up,” he said.

Commenting on the arrest, Chairman and Chief Executive officer of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the 2.4 kilograms of heroin estimated to cost N23 million recovered from the suspects was concealed in a consignment of garments and sports wares and equipments with airway bill number 176- 1503 6324. He said they were brought to Nigeria from Lahore in Pakistan by Emirate flight.