The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 44-year-old businessman, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka, for ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Tehran, Iran.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that the suspect was intercepted on Saturday, June 7, during outward clearance for flight QR1434 via Doha. A body scan revealed drug ingestion, prompting his placement under observation. He subsequently excreted 53 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.172 kilograms in six phases.
This arrest comes less than two weeks after a similar incident in which 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Okigbo was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 65 wraps of cocaine in his stomach while en route to Iran.
Ezemokwe reportedly confessed to being involved in the illicit trade for two years, trafficking drugs between West Africa and Iran.
In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted an Italy-bound passenger, Edobor Ali, aboard an Air France flight. A search of his luggage uncovered 14,410 tramadol pills (225mg and 200mg) concealed in winter jackets. He claimed he was hired in Italy and paid €2,000 for the job.
Further drug seizures include:
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Onne Port, Rivers State: 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at over N1.1 billion, concealed behind ceramic sanitary wares.
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Cross River State: A warehouse raid in Obereakai, Odukpani LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and recovery of 2,687kg of cannabis (skunk).
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Bauchi-Jos Road: Arrest of two suspects, with 287kg of cannabis blocks recovered from their vehicle.
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Oniru Beach, Lagos: 560kg of skunk seized from a wooden boat by NDLEA Marine Command.
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Maiduguri Airport: Two businessmen were arrested with ecstasy pills and skunk disguised in branded wrappers.
The NDLEA also reported ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns nationwide.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the MMIA, PHIA, PHPC, MBIAM, Marine, Cross River, and Bauchi commands for their coordinated operations, praising their balanced efforts in tackling both drug supply and demand.
