Determined to become rich at all
cost, one Omidiya Taiwo, 44, threw caution to the wind and swallowed 87 wraps
of cocaine, knowing fully well that if one burst in his stomach, he could die.
Taiwo told operatives of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who arrested and him and three
others, that he knew the risk he was taking, but he wanted to make a fortune.
The suspect with others; Anikwe
Chukwudi Charles, 25, Igwe Nelson Chidi, 24 and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil, 44 were
arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos in
possession of cocaine weighing
6.135kg.
Taiwo who works in an automobile
company in Barcelona, Spain said that he was introduced into drug trafficking
by a friend.
He said: “I have been living in
Spain for the past 14 years where I work with an automobile company. My friend
in Barcelona called me, requesting that I should bring drugs to Spain. He even
contacted somebody who gave me the drugs in Lagos. After swallowing 87 wraps, I
hid the remaining in my pants because the wraps were many. I was sad when the
drug was detected at the airport because I would have made a fortune from it!”
Charles, a hotel attendant in Lagos said
that he was on his way to Malaysia for studies when he was caught with the
drugs.
His words: “I was working as a hotel
attendant in Lagos when a customer asked me if I am a graduate. I told him that
I have five credits but could not further my education due to lack of finance.
He promised to help me and used to give me money any time he comes around. He
called me that he had completed my admission to further my studies in Malaysia.
That was how he paid my travel expenses and gave me a bag to take to Malaysia.”
Charles said that his supposed
benefactor told him that his friend would collect the bag from him and further assist
him with his school admission. “Unfortunately, drug was found inside the handle
of the bag he gave me,” cried Charles.
Chidi, 24, a student in Cyprus said
that he agreed to smuggle the drug for the sum of 5,000 pounds.
Stating his involvement, Chidi
noted: “I got admission two months ago to study Tourism and Hotel Management in
Cyprus. While in Nigeria, a friend in Cyprus called me to bring narcotics for a
fee of 5,000 pounds. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. I wanted
to use the money to settle my fees and buy books for my study. This is a big
setback for my career.”
Basil, 44, a farmer in Imo State,
said he was suffering financially in the village when he was asked to go to
Pakistan by a friend.
“I’m a farmer in Imo State. It was
difficult for me to feed my wife and only child because of hardship. That was
my condition when a friend invited me to Pakistan.
“He promised to sponsor my trip and
help me secure a good job. When I got to Pakistan, he told me there was no job
but that I should take drugs to Nigeria. He promised to give me half a million
naira to start my business if I can take the drugs to Nigeria. Since life was
becoming unbearable I decided to take the risk. I was however not lucky because
I was arrested at the Lagos airport.”
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos
airport, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the breakdown of the drug as 4.290kg of heroin,
570 grammes of methamphetamine and 1.275kg of cocaine.
“Taiwo was found in possession of
525 grammes of cocaine and 1.540kg of heroin. Charles was intercepted with 570
grammes of methamphetamine concealed in his luggage handles on his way to
Malaysia, Chidi was found with 750 grammes of cocaine hidden under his luggage
and Basil was caught with 2.750kg of heroin hidden inside duty free bag inside
his luggage while returning from Pakistan. They are cooperating with our team
of investigators and will be charged to court soon,” Hamza stated.
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