‘I trafficked cocaine to raise money for my father’s burial anniversary’

NDLEA agents extracting the drug

Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one Oluigboka Chukwuemeka Emmanuel in connection with 2.472kg of cocaine hidden inside jewellery.

The arrest was made when the suspect, Emmanuel, 33, arrived from Brazil aboard a KLM flight and was intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

During a search, powdery substances which later tested positive for cocaine were found in his bag of jewellery.

It took several hours to extract the cocaine from the jewellery because of the complex method of concealment.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect who had lived in Brazil for over five years is suspected to be working for a suspected Brazilian based drug syndicate.

However, in his statement he said he was smuggling the drug for a fee.

In his words: “I needed money for the burial anniversary of my late father. As the breadwinner, everybody was looking up to me for the sponsorship of the anniversary.
“I have lived in Brazil for over five years but I have no money to undertake this important family responsibility. My interest was the 2,000 Euros they promised to pay me.”

Oluigboka, who is married with a child, hails from Imo State.

Speaking on the latest discovery, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the drug was factory packed inside assorted jewellery.

“This mode of concealment is strange and it is the first time of discovering drugs inside jewellery. The drugs were industrially packed in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles as well as in female belts. We had to forcefully open them to recover the drugs. The entire quantity of cocaine found in the jewellery products weighed 2.472kg. One arrest has been made in connection with the seizure,” Hamza stated.