Posted by Simon Ateba on
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspected drug traffickers, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in the past two weeks. Three of the suspected drug traffickers were found to have ingested the drugs, while one packed it in his luggage.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspected drug traffickers, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in the past two weeks. Three of the suspected drug traffickers were found to have ingested the drugs, while one packed it in his luggage.
The NDLEA commander, at the airport, Mr. Victor Cole-Showers, gave the names of the suspects as Augustine Aniakor, 31; Oraka Edwin Ikediukwu, 28; Muritala Kudus, 32 and Uzuh Francis Ezekwem, 45. The estimated street value of the drugs, in Lagos, is about N13 million
Augustine Aniokor, with Nigerian international passport number A3074544A, was arrested on his way to Germany, on Wednesday, 12 November, 2008, at the centre screening point of the airport. The 31-year-old trader, who sells telephone accessories at the Alaba market, Lagos, said poor business made him to traffic in drugs. He lives at 6, Ajisola Street, Onireke Barracks, Ojo, Lagos. He is married with a child and hails from Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra state. Aniokor was said to have ingested 70 wraps of substances which tested positive to cocaine. He has so far excreted 51 wraps and is still under observation.
Oraka Edwin Ikediukwu, 28, P.M.News gathered, was arrested on 5 November, 2008, during the screening of passengers on KLM flight to Amsterdam. Oraka lives in Almeria, Spain, where he works as a labourer. He tested positive to drug ingestion and was placed on observation. Initially, he argued that there were no drugs in his stomach but shortly after, he began to excrete the drugs. He excreted a total of 103 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 1.778 kg. According to Oraka, he wanted to raise money from the illicit trade to settle down with his wife and three children back home in Nigeria. 'I needed money to establish business in Nigeria. I have drawn up a list of things to buy with the 4,500 Euros they promised to pay me,' he stated.
Muritala Kudus, 32, was arrested on 3 November, 2008. The powdery substance that tested positive to cocaine, weighing 900 grammes, was wrapped inside a towel in his luggage. He arrived from Dakar, on a Bellview flight, when the drug was detected by NDLEA officers during a routine check. He resides at Araromi Street, Epe, his home town, where he sells clothes.
Uzuh Francis Ezekwem , 45, was arrested on 30 October, 2008, during the screening of passengers on Alitalia flight. The father of six said frustration led him into swallowing 95 wraps of narcotic drugs that tested positive to cocaine. 'I am a trader, but today I have no shop. I was duped and my wife who sells at Tejuosho Market was also affected when the market was demolished.' The suspects are to be charged to court soon, NDLEA officials confirmed to P.M.News.