A widower, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde, and a divorcee, Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo, who were going for Umrah (lesser hajj) in Saudi Arabia have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
The duo were arrested separately for attempting to export 14.4kgs of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday in Abuja that Ariyibi was intercepted on Thursday, April 20, at the screening point of MMIA Terminal 2 during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos via Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia. “When his carry-on bag was checked, four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive to Cocaine weighing 11.50kgs were discovered.
“The suspect who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner said his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practice the process,” Babafemi said.
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He said the suspect confessed that he is expected to be paid N1.8m upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The previous day, April 19, NDLEA officers at the Terminal 2 of the airport also arrested one Mrs Silifat Tunrayo Akanbi with 2.90kgs of cocaine during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
Babafemi said a search of her hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.90kgs concealed in ankara fabrics.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk clothes around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos.
Based on information in her statement, a follow-up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday, April 20th, was carried out, during which the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu, was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency, Babafemi addede.
In the same vein, NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to United Arab Emirate (UAE).
While the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold colour wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a micro controller.
Also, a 400-level Marine Engineering student at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Kelvin Ogenedoro, was arrested for dealing in 600grams of skunk.
He was nabbed at the university’s gate in a follow-up operation following the interception of the consignment in a commercial bus along Tombia-Amassoma road.
