The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a suspected drug trafficker, Chigbogu Obiora, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos with 97 wraps of cocaine worth N360 million.
NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the 47-year-old drug trafficker was arrested by operatives of NDLEA on Sunday, April 25 during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline.
He said that Obiora, who arrived in Lagos onboard the airline from Entebbe, Uganda via Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, was subsequently put under observation.
This, he said, was why Obiora had so far excreted 97 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine with a total weight of 1.55 kilogramme and a street value of N360 million.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Commander, MMIA Command, Ahmadu Garba, as saying that Obiora was intercepted in the E-arrival hall of the airport by NDLEA operatives on the suspicion that he ingested drug substance.
“The suspect was taken for body machine scan and the result was positive for ingestion of substance suspected to be illicit drug. The suspect was promptly moved to the NDLEA excretion and observation facility.
“Barely an hour after he was arrested, Obiora excreted 31 wraps of cocaine weighing 500 grammes and another 47 wraps (750 grammes) in the evening of same day.
“Nineteen wraps (300 grammes) were excreted the following day, Monday 26th April, bringing the total to 97 wraps, that is, 1.55 kg,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesman said that under interrogation, Obiora claimed he was promised $1,500 if he successfully trafficked the drug.
Obiora said he accepted “the deal” because he needed money.
“I did it so that I will be capable of feeding my family. I was living in Madagascar but due to the COVID-19 and the lockdown in the country, I cannot return to my place of work.
“There was a time I started lacking money to feed my family and to pay my children’s school fees; the worst part of it is to pay my rent. So, I decided to take the option to do it and I never knew I can be arrested.
“I have never met the real owner of the drug. I don’t know him, they contacted me on phone and asked if I can do the business,” Obiora said.