The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
By Davidson Iriekpen
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday intercepted four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Among the suspects was a Nigerian, Ugochukwu Emmanuel Innocent, who was travelling with Gambia international passport, bearing the name, Gaye Jerry.
The others were Udeh Innocent Chukwuemeka, Olisah Kelvin Chukwuka and Mgbeajuo Alex Chigozie.
A total of 5.715kilogrammes of suspected substance that tested positive for Methamphetamine was seized from the suspects.
Gaye, 33, who wanted to board an Ethiopian Airways flight, was found to have concealed 600grammes of Methamphe-tamine in the metal handle of his luggage while Udeh, 36, hid 2kilogrammes of similar drug in a false compartment of his bag during the screening of Qatar Airways flight.
Olisah, 26, who was caught during the screening of passengers on an Egypt Air flight, ingested 1.300kilogrammes while Mgbeajuo, 31, who attempted to board an Emirate Airline, swallowed 1.815kiloggrammes of Methamphetamine. All four suspects were destined for Malaysia where the punishment for drug trafficking is death.
Gaye, who hails from Imo State but resides in Lagos, concealed 600grammes in the metal handle of his luggage.
The bag contained foodstuff meant to distract attention, but the drug was still discovered during routine search at the luggage check desk. Gaye, a trader who sells clothes, lived in the Gambia between 2000 and 2004.
Like Gaye, Udeh, who is a student in Malaysia, concealed 2kilogrammes of methamphetamine in his bag. Udeh is studying English at Edutran College at Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia.
During interrogation, he stated that he took the risk to improve his financial status. “I got involved in drug trafficking because I need money. I am a student studying English language in Malaysia. After my primary school at Central School Nnobi, I was admitted at Madonna Commercial School at Nnobi but I stopped in class two due to lack of fund.”
The anti-narcotics agency said all the suspects would be charged to court soon. Reacting to incident as part of his Eid-el-Fitri goodwill message, Chairman of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, called youths in the country to be careful because the arrest of the four suspects in Nigeria may have prevented them from untimely death in Malaysia on account of illicit drug trafficking.
He also warned the youth not to use foreign passports and hidden identities to commit crimes in other countries.
“Another worrisome dimension is the number of Nigerians, like Gaye Jerry, with foreign passports and hidden identities that are on death-roll in other countries. Everybody must be actively involved in this campaign,” he said.
According to him, “while we celebrate the prevention of these four suspects from premature death, members of the public, particularly the youth, must make frantic efforts individually to resist drug trafficking. Giade urged Nigerian youths to join the anti-drug campaign and make the world a drug free place.