NDLEA Arrests Kingpin for Ingestion of 87 Wraps of Cocaine

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A Nigerian, Ibeh Ejike, who was returning from Kigali, Rwanda, has been arrested for alleged ingestion of 87 wraps of cocaine by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The 41-year-old suspect, described by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday as narcotic-trafficker, was arrested on August 25, 2021, upon his arrival on board an Ethiopian Airline flight 911 from Kigali via Addis Ababa.

He was taken in for secondary check during which he tested positive to ingestion of illicit substance, and while under observation, he excreted 87 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.884 kilogrammes.

Ejike, who was said to import cloths for sale, hails from Owerrizikeala village in Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra State.

In another clampdown, a Lagos-based drug dealer, Eze Okorie, has been arrested following the interception of 4.15 kilogrammes of methamphetamine consignment going to London, the United Kingdom, at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on August 13.

According to Babafemi, the drug was concealed in tins of tomato branded ‘sunripe’ and packaged for the driver of a freight forwarding company to deliver at the airport export shed for onward movement to the UK.

He said though the freight company’s driver was initially arrested; follow-up investigations and subsequent sting operation led to the arrest of the kingpin behind the consignment, Eze Okorie, at his Coker, Surulere, Lagos home on August 25, 2021. He hails from Isu village in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State.

The NDLEA spokesman said in the agency’s continuous raids of drug joints across the states last week, in Cross River State, one Anietie Attauba was arrested at Idundu community with 9.9 grammes of cocaine, while 23-year-old Joy Odey was picked up at Nasarawa Bakoko Area of Calabar Municipality LGA on August 27 with 500 grammes of skunk.

On the same day, one Ugwuanyi Basil was arrested at AK Divine Park, Harbour Road, Calabar, with 2.6 kilogrammes of cannabis; 10.33 grammes of cocaine and 30 millilitres of swinol.

In Abuja, operatives of the FCT Command of the agency, according to Babafemi, intercepted a Hiace bus conveying bags of cannabis and 30 parcels of skunk, cumulatively weighing 310 kilogrammes on Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway, where another 32 kilogrammes of tramadol was equally seized the same day.

He said in Anambra State, operatives also raided the Onitsha main market, Marine Line on August 26 with the support of soldiers, adding that items recovered during the raid included 50 kilogrammes of cannabis; 150 grammes of meth and 27.6 grammes of cocaine, with one of the dealers, Moses Obiahu, arrested.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), while commending the resilience of the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Anambra, Cross River States and FCT Commands of the agency in the latest arrests and seizures, charged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the ongoing offensive action aimed at cutting off availability and accessibility to illicit drugs in all parts of Nigeria.