One of the three suspects, arrested
for drug trafficking, has said that he joined drug trafficking because of
financial debts incurred from burying his mother.
The suspect, Obiabumuo Augustine
Ikechukwu, said that he smuggled drugs because he desperately needed to pay his
creditors.
His words: “I was selling electrical
appliances at Alaba Market in Lagos before I travelled to Czech Republic in
search of greener pastures. I needed money to settle my debts after my mother’s
burial that was how I got involved in drug trafficking.”
Ikechukwu was arrested with South
African Sipho Mitshali, 31and Ifeagwu Osita.
The suspects were arrested at the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja. Mitshali was found in
possession of 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of Methamphetamine on his way to
Johannesburg.
Osita and Ikechukwu were also
arrested for attempting to smuggle 4.7kg and 1.5kg of cocaine.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja
airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said that the three suspects are under investigation.
Hamisu said: “Mitshali was caught
smuggling 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of methamphetamine to South Africa through
Addis Ababa. Osita imported 263 pellets of cocaine weighing 4.7kg from Dubai,
while Ikechukwu was apprehended attempting to export 1.5kg of cocaine to
Switzerland through Frankfurt. The cases are being investigated.”
According to NDLEA, the arrest of Mitshali,
a Zulu by tribe from Lehae, Lenasia, a suburb of Johannesburg with Ephedrine
and Methamphetamine to South Africa further validates the growing demand of
Ephedrine and Methamphetamine in South Africa.
NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju
said: “Recently, NDLEA nabbed a suspected drug baron, Tochukwu Harris Ubah with
310kgs of ephedrine and 266kg of methamphetamine valued at N4.6 billion hidden
inside noodles, cereals and palm oil being smuggled to South Africa.”
Stating his own side of the story
while he trafficked drug, Osita said: “I’m a business man living at Okota,
Lagos. I’m married with three children. My daughter had been sick and I have
spent so much money on her bills yet there is no sign of improvement. This
affected my business and forced me into drug trafficking. I was desperate to
save my daughter from pain and death. The drug was given to me at Dubai airport,
but on getting to Nigeria, I was arrested.”
The Acting Chairman of the NDLEA,
Mrs. Roli Bode-George assured that the Agency would continue to tighten the
noose on drug cartels. According to Roli, efforts were ongoing to consolidate
on operational gains by the Agency.
She said: “The NDLEA is working hard
towards making the country impenetrable to drug barons. We are also tightening
the noose on drug trafficking syndicates to sustain the gains recorded in
arrests of drug barons and seizure of drugs. There is a systematic plan of
action to dislodge drug syndicates and ultimately eradicate illicit drugs from
our society.”
The NDLEA boss also called for
support from Nigerians against drug barons whom she described as enemies of the
society.
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