The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an ex-convict, Onyeka Charles Madukolu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos State for importing 5.90 kilograms of cocaine concealed in cans of deodorants and ladies’ lip gloss into Nigeria.
Onyeka who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Ethiopia for drug trafficking offences and released from prison in 2020, was again arrested on Friday at the Lagos airport on his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
This was disclosed via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi stated that a search of the suspect’s luggage revealed he had concealed 5.90kg cocaine inside cans of deodorants and female lip gloss.
He added that the ex-convict, during a preliminary interview, claimed to have gone into the drug business to raise fresh capital to start a legitimate business after his release from Ethiopian prison in 2020.
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“The father of two kids, one each from a Nigerian woman and a Brazilian lady, said he was into motor spare parts business before going into the criminal trade. The 44-year-old indigene of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State said he was expecting to be paid N2 million on successful delivery of the illicit drug in Nigeria,” he noted.
The NDLEA spokesperson further stated that the operatives of the anti-drug agency, on Tuesday, intercepted another trafficker, Chukwu Kingsley on his way to Rome, Italy on an Asky Airline flight.
Babafemi said a search of Kingsley’s luggage shows he had concealed among food condiments 11,460 tablets of tramadol 225mg with a gross weight of 5.7kg and 39 bottles of codeine syrup.
He stated that the 49-year-old suspect is a known haulage agent who hails from Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State.
The NDLEA spokesman added that a freight agent, Lawal Adeyemi, was also arrested on Tuesday at the Lagos airport for attempting to export some sachets of lexotan among other non-controlled drugs to Liberia.
He noted that 593.90 kilograms of khat leaf were also seized at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport on Thursday after a joint examination of the cargo by a combined team of security agencies.
Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the anti-drug agency officers for their vigilance and resilience.
Marwa equally charged them and others across the country to remain focused as they daily discharge their responsibilities.
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