Pakistani student arrested with N228m drug

A 19-year-old Pakistani student, who came into Nigeria with the aim of touring Victoria Island, has been arrested for smuggling heroin into country. The drug is estimated at N228 million.
The suspect, Iftikihar Muhammed Arslan, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He had cleverly hidden the prohibited drug in a smaller bag inside his luggage.

Arslan, who speaks English fluently, said: “I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres. “Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos airport, the heroin was found in my luggage.
This is the first time I came to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two.” The drug, weighing 25.400kg, was discovered in the suspect’s luggage during inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight.
Narcotic agents believe that the Pakistani is not working alone, but a member of a drug cartel, determined to infiltrate Nigeria. Preliminary investigation so far has shown that Arslan left Lahore, Pakistan with the drug to Abu Dhabi then Doha from where he connected Lagos.
The NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the suspect is believed to be working for a Pakistani drug cartel. He said: “This is the largest single seizure of heroin made at the Lagos airport since January 2014.”
The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr Hamza Umar, added that the 19-year-old Pakistani was found in possession of 25 parcels of brownish substance which tested positive for heroin, weighing 25.400kg at the arrival hall.
Umar disclosed that the suspect was cooperating with the agency’s team of investigators. The Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who expressed joy over the arrest, said that Nigeria was winning the fight against narcotics.
He said: “This arrest and seizure will further send a warning to drug trafficking cartels that Nigeria is winning the fight against narcotics. “NDLEA is prepared to halt the criminal activities of drug barons through coordinated drug detection strategies.
We are working very hard to also identify other members of the criminal group.” Giade added that while investigation was on-going, more proactive measures would be taken to prevent the use of Nigeria as a transit point for illicit drugs.
He said that all suspects linked to the crime would be charged as soon as investigation was concluded