A suspected drug trafficker, who was arrested for being in possession of a bag containing dried weeds which tested positive to cannabis concealed in foodstuff, said he did not know the bag contained illegal stuff.
The suspect, Friday Ufot Tom, 31, a technician was arrested
by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) during the outward screening of
passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai. The cannabis weighed 665 grammes.
Tom, who services and installs electrical appliances, told
investigators that he was given the drug by a man who assisted him with his
travel documents.
His words: “I am a technician by profession. I suffered
financial hardship and could not settle my bills. After so many fruitless
struggles to make ends meet, I decided to travel to Dubai in search of
employment. The man who assisted me with my travel documents gave me a bag at
the airport. He told me that his friend will collect the bag from me in Dubai.
According to his plan, the man will accommodate me and also help me to secure a
good job. He told me the bag contain garri, stock fish, beans, dried bitter-leaf
vegetables and dried fish. However, while trying to check-in the bag, NDLEA
officers discovered the cannabis. I am not happy because my condition has gone
from bad to worse.”
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar said:
“Officers at the departure hall found two parcels of dried weeds which tested
positive for cannabis inside the luggage of the suspect, a passenger travelling
to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The drug weighed 665 grammes and the
incident is currently under investigation.”
The Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade in his response,
alerted members of the public to the plan by drug barons to lure victims into
drug trafficking under the guise of providing job opportunities abroad.
He said: “Drug barons hide under the guise of providing job
opportunities abroad to make them drug couriers. The Agency has taken steps to
apprehend more drug traffickers and prosecute them. Security checks at all
entry and exit points have equally been fortified and anyone who dares to
smuggle drugs will only end up in prison custody.”
The suspect will soon be charged to court.
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