The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 50-year-old Nigerian businessman for allegedly importing 700 grams of cocaine into the country. The arrest was made on Friday, November 29, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest, revealing that the suspect had concealed the illicit drug in his stomach. The businessman, who had been residing in Brazil for 35 years, was intercepted by NDLEA operatives upon his arrival from São Paulo via an Ethiopian Airlines flight that connected through Addis Ababa.
“When he was taken for a body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 700 grams,” Babafemi stated.
The suspect disclosed that he owned an African store in Brazil where he sold provisions, shoes, and clothing. He admitted to purchasing the cocaine in São Paulo with the intention of selling it in Nigeria to raise capital for his business.
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In his statement, the suspect said, “I needed substantial capital to expand my store back home, and I saw this as an opportunity to raise funds. It was a terrible mistake.”
The NDLEA also announced another breakthrough in its anti-drug trafficking operations. On November 26, operatives from the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two consignments intended for the United Kingdom.
According to Babafemi, “The consignments contained cocaine weighing 200 grams, concealed within local fabrics, and 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 110 grams, hidden in cartons. They were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos.”
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to curbing drug trafficking and urged Nigerians to desist from engaging in such criminal activities. Babafemi emphasized that the agency would continue to leverage intelligence and advanced technology to intercept drugs and apprehend those involved in the illicit trade.
“This arrest and seizure demonstrate the agency’s unrelenting efforts to rid Nigeria of drug trafficking. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect our society from the harmful effects of drugs,” he concluded.
The suspect remains in custody while further investigations continue. NDLEA officials have assured the public of their dedication to ensuring that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. The agency has also called on citizens to provide information that could aid in combating drug-related crimes.