More drug traffickers in the
country are becoming desperate in their bid to smuggle drugs into or out
of the country, and have devised more dubious means to beat off officials
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
country are becoming desperate in their bid to smuggle drugs into or out
of the country, and have devised more dubious means to beat off officials
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In the past, drug ingestion was the only means employed by drug
traffickers to evade arrest. But, in recent times, those involved in this
illicit trade have employed other means such as hiding of drugs in the soles of
their shoes, anus and private parts.
The NDLEA at the weekend arrested an auto technician in
connection with 2.655kg of cocaine hidden inside roast chicken.
connection with 2.655kg of cocaine hidden inside roast chicken.
Only recently, the agency disclosed that it arrested three
suspected female drug traffickers for smuggling 4.5kg of narcotics in their
underwear and wigs, while attempting to board a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja (NAIA), enroute to Malaysia.
suspected female drug traffickers for smuggling 4.5kg of narcotics in their
underwear and wigs, while attempting to board a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja (NAIA), enroute to Malaysia.
Before that, a 48-year-old woman, Mande Fatima Bala, set a new
record in narcotic smuggling in the country after she was arrested by the NDLEA
with 66 wraps of methamphetamine concealed in her genitals.
record in narcotic smuggling in the country after she was arrested by the NDLEA
with 66 wraps of methamphetamine concealed in her genitals.
The agency also recently sounded the alarm about the threat of
smuggling large shipments of narcotics through Nigerian seaports into the
country.
smuggling large shipments of narcotics through Nigerian seaports into the
country.
Only yesterday, the NDLEA airport commander, at Murtala Muhammed
airport, Lagos, Mr Hamza Umar, who gave the name of the suspect arrested at the
weekend as Vincent Chegini Chinweuwa describing the seizure as “remarkable”.
airport, Lagos, Mr Hamza Umar, who gave the name of the suspect arrested at the
weekend as Vincent Chegini Chinweuwa describing the seizure as “remarkable”.
The cocaine with a street value of N24 million was discovered by
the officials of the agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport
(MMIA), Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers on a Turkish Airline
flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
the officials of the agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport
(MMIA), Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers on a Turkish Airline
flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
He explained that the suspect had given investigators useful
information, adding: “We discovered 2.655kg of cocaine hidden inside roast
chicken. It is a remarkable seizure because no one would have imagined cocaine
worth several millions inside roast chicken.”
information, adding: “We discovered 2.655kg of cocaine hidden inside roast
chicken. It is a remarkable seizure because no one would have imagined cocaine
worth several millions inside roast chicken.”
On interrogation, the suspect said he thought that the drug
would not be detected in the roast chicken.
would not be detected in the roast chicken.
According to him, “It took me three days to pack the
cocaine inside the roast chicken. I was confident that the drug will not be
detected. I have been living in Brazil since 2006.
cocaine inside the roast chicken. I was confident that the drug will not be
detected. I have been living in Brazil since 2006.
“Life has been stressful because I cannot even visit my wife in Nigeria
due to lack of money. I wanted some money to start any business of my choice
back home. Unfortunately, I was disappointed upon arrival in Lagos.”
due to lack of money. I wanted some money to start any business of my choice
back home. Unfortunately, I was disappointed upon arrival in Lagos.”
Speaking on the arrest, the chairman/chief executive of the
NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said such intelligent detection and subsequent seizures
would help to discourage others from the criminal drug trade.
NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said such intelligent detection and subsequent seizures
would help to discourage others from the criminal drug trade.
Giade added: “The suspect thought his mode of drug concealment
was perfect, but we proved him wrong. Several drugs cleverly hidden by drug
barons have been discovered and we shall continue to detect drugs regardless of
the mode of concealment.”
was perfect, but we proved him wrong. Several drugs cleverly hidden by drug
barons have been discovered and we shall continue to detect drugs regardless of
the mode of concealment.”
The agency recently disclosed that it had seized over 1.3
million kilogrammes of drugs in the last six years
million kilogrammes of drugs in the last six years
