The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Paris-bound businessman who excreted 111 wraps of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja.
The NDLEA’s spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the suspect, 48-year-old Emmanuel Orjinze, excreted the wraps after days of observation in the agency’s custody.
Babafemi said that Orjinze, who also claimed he was a professional footballer in Europe was arrested on Tuesday during the outward clearance of an Airfrance flight AF 878 from Abuja to Paris, France.
“After a body scan confirmed he ingested illicit drugs, he was taken into custody where he excreted a total of 111 pellets of cocaine.
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“These pellets of cocaine weighed 1.603 kilograms and were for over a period of three days.
“The suspect claimed he does business in the maritime sector while still scouting for any European football club to engage him,“ he said.
Drug trafficking syndicate dismantled
In the same vein, Babafemi said that NDLEA officers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, have dismantled another drug trafficking syndicate at the airport.
According to him, this followed an arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8kg of methamphetamine and 7.60kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa.
Babafemi said that the lid was blown off the syndicate when an official within the airport system was intercepted with a backpack and a bag by NDLEA officers with the support of Aviation Security officers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
“A search of the bags led to the discovery of the illicit substances.
“A swift follow-up operation at the Ajao Estate area of Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of another member of the cartel working within the airport system on Saturday, May 25, “he said.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) export shed of the Lagos airport have arrested a freight agent, Mariam Sonubi.
Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested over her attempt to cargo 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2kg.
He said that the drugs were concealed in three out of six paint buckets containing shea butter packaged for export to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 22.
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