A woman, Mande Fatima Bala, 48, has set a new record in narcotic smuggling in
the country.
She inserted
66 wraps of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine weighing one kilogramme
into her vagina as she attempted to board a Kenyan Airways flight to Nairobi.
According to the Agency, no suspect had ever inserted such a large quantity of
drugs in private part since the establishment of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 1989. The suspect who is a graduate of accountancy
was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
The quantity of the drugs was so much that it
affected her gait thus attracting attention of officials.
Unfortunately, nemesis caught up with her when
one of the wraps fell on the floor at the screening area as she bent down to
pick up her belongings. Upon interrogation and examination, she confessed to
the crime, confessing that she was asked to swallow the drug but was scared to
death she might die if any burst.
In all, 66 wraps of methamphetamine with a total
weight of one kilogramme were removed from her private parts. Preliminary
investigation revealed that she lived in Australia for about two years before
she was deported in 2010.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Hamza
Umar described the case as shocking. “This is incredible. She was desperate but
I am happy that she was promptly detected. No suspect has ever inserted such a
large quantity of drugs in the country. Usually, cases of insertion are not
more than 300 grammes. It is amazing” Hamza stated.
According to the suspect who is a widow and
mother of three, it was how to pay school fees that lured her into the criminal
act. “I am a widow with three children. It was 45,000 naira school fees for my
child and land lord who is threatening to quit me by July for not paying my
rent that pushed me into drug business. I was instructed to swallow the drugs
but I was scared because I have never seen drugs in my life. I used to sell
water and drinks after my husband died in an auto accident in 2007. Few years
after, I lost everything and could not feed. I studied accountancy but I have
never practiced” the 1992 graduate of accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo
University Ife lamented.
She added
that she concealed the drugs herself. In her words, “I was given the drug in a
hotel. I was afraid of death because I have heard of people dying because of
drug ingestion, so I decided to insert the wraps on my body. It was difficult
because I could not walk normally but I have to try my best to avoid suspicion.
I have nobody to take care of my children”.
No comments:
Post a Comment