Photos: NDLEA discovers cocaine hidden inside shoes, arrest three suspects

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detected parcels of cocaine hidden inside the sole of shoes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The consignment of shoes where the cocaine was discovered was said to have originated from Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

 

The owner of the luggage have been arrested while two other suspected drug traffickers that tested positive and excreted narcotic are also being investigated. A white powdery substance found to be cocaine with a total weight of 3.950kgs were seized from the suspects.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garuba said that one of the suspects concealed the drugs inside shoe soles while the remaining two ingested wraps of cocaine. In his words,

"Three suspects have been arrested with a total of 3.950kgs of cocaine. They are Mbatugosi Paul Ifechukwu, 32 year old caught with 1.950kgs of cocaine hidden inside shoe soles, Adugba Ugochukwu Godson, 34 year old who ingested 1.50kgs of cocaine on his way to Sydney, Australia and Onuoha FridayDominic, 42 year old found to have ingested 850 grammes of cocaine from Brazil. The cases are under investigation and will be charged to court soon".

Mbatugosi Paul Ifechukwu who used to sell shoes at Enugu said that he was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend he met in Brazil.

"After my graduation from Technical College in my home town Ihiala, Anambra State in 2002; I went to Enugu where I was selling shoes. In 2015, I travelled to Brazil in search of better opportunities. However, while in Brazil, I worked as a barber to earn a living. After a year and three months in Brazil, I was disappointed because I had no savings, so I decided that I will get some money and be exporting shoes to Nigeria. It was in the process of looking for a start-up capital that a friend introduced me into drug trafficking. My friend bought the shoes and prepared the drugs inside 13 pairs. This is my first time and I was caught" Mbatugosi stated.

The second suspect, Adugba Ugochukwu Godson who ingested 1.150kgs of cocaine said that he wanted to visit his wife in Sydney, Australia when he was caught.

"I was travelling to visit my wife who lives in Australia when a friend introduced me to drug trafficking. Initially, I told turned down the idea because I never wanted anything that will tarnish my reputation. He later convinced me that I will never be caught and also promised me the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). This was how I fell for him and found myself in this mess" Adugba who hails from Abia State stated.

Onuoha Friday Dominic was found to have ingested 850 grammes of cocaine equally blamed his involvement on friends. He travelled to Brazil in search of job opportunities but was unable to get job satisfaction.

"I was not satisfied working as an event planner in Brazil because the salary was just for subsistence living. After paying my bills, there was little or nothing left. That was how I was introduced into drug trafficking. My friend said that the only way to make quick money is through drug trafficking. He promised to pay me $15,000 and I agreed to swallow the drugs" Onuoha stated. He hails from Abia State.

In his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) expressed satisfaction with the arrests.

"Every arrest and seizure of drugs is a victory over drug syndicates. The NDLEA will continue to consolidate on the operational successes so far recorded by maintaining vigilance at all entry and exit points. This will be complimented with public awareness programmes on illegal drug production, trafficking and use aimed at reducing demand for drugs" Abdallah stated.

NDLEA investigates the arrest of 3 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia over alleged drug trafficking

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has ordered investigation into the arrest of three Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in connection with substances suspected to be cocaine. 

Abdallah who expressed disappointment over the unfortunate incident constituted a panel of inquiry headed by the Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo to immediately investigate the incident adding that the Agency will address the situation with every sense of seriousness and urgency. The Agency had also deployed more investigators to all the screening camps nationwide. In a press release yesterday, August 26th, the NDLEA boss said,

"Narcotic smuggling is criminal and the involvement of pilgrims is utterly reprehensible. This is unfortunate and we are working very hard to get to the root of it. The Agency is handling this case with every sense of seriousness and urgency because this action has negatively affected the image of Nigeria. We have also taken measures to intensify the on-going screening of pilgrims who are yet to depart to Saudi Arabia to prevent a re-occurrence of the sad incident".

Abdallah assured members of the public that the NDLEA will get to the root of the incident. The terms of reference for the panel of inquiry include to ascertain the circumstances behind the non-detection of the pilgrims before takeoff, identification of possible sponsors and source of drug supply as well as make recommendations on effective screening of pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA boss also called on pilgrims to uphold the principle of probity, patriotism and eschew any act capable of bringing the image of the country to disrepute. Abdallah vowed to take necessary steps aimed at bringing any person or group of persons involved in the criminal act to justice.