- As NDLEA secures conviction of 1,445 drug traffickers in six months
Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, a 34-year-old man from Suriname in South America, was apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, Nigeria. He was found in possession of 117 parcels of cocaine, concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside 100ml body spray bottles. The arrest took place after he arrived in Nigeria from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on a Qatar Airways flight on April 7th, 2023.
Lorenzo claimed that he had traveled to Nigeria in search of his long-lost Nigerian father, whom he referred to as “Omini.” However, he was arraigned before Justice E.A. Obile of the Federal High Court 2, Port Harcourt, on June 1st, facing two charges – importation and unlawful possession of 9.9 kilograms of cocaine (charge number FHC/PH/181C/23).
The suspect pleaded guilty to both charges and, after the review of the case’s facts on July 20th, he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison without the option of a fine. Justice Obile ruled that both sentences should run concurrently.
In addition to his imprisonment, the court ordered the forfeiture of the sum of Ninety US Dollars ($90) and Ten Brazilian Real (R$10) recovered from Lorenzo at the time of his arrest to the Federal Government. The court also rejected the application made by Lorenzo’s counsel for him to be deported back to Suriname.
As of June 2023, Lorenzo’s case is among the 1,445 drug cases successfully concluded at the Federal High Court across Nigeria. The NDLEA’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services handled these cases, with 11,166 other drug-related cases ongoing in court. Out of the convicted individuals, 221 are female, and the rest, 1,541, are male. Among the pending cases, 10,626 involve male suspects, and 540 involve female suspects.
The total weight of drugs linked to these cases, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, tramadol, and others, amounts to 555,953.70 kilograms, seized between January and June 2023.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the officers and men of the prosecution department for their excellent work. He encouraged them to remain committed to diligently prosecuting all pending cases in court, emphasizing that conviction and sentencing without the option of a fine serve as strong deterrents to potential offenders and those contemplating engaging in criminal activities.
