The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested a 31-year-old single mother for concealing 43 grammes of heroin in her private part in a bid to avoid arrest.
The Head of Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, made the disclosure in a statement in Ikeja.
He said the arrest took place at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates Airlines flight.
The Commander of the NDLEA at the airport, Hamza Umar, was quoted as saying that the arrest was facilitated with the aid of scanning machines.
He said, “During the inward screening of Emirate passengers, one Aladi Onyinye Juliet tested positive for narcotic ingestion.
“The drug was, subsequently, expelled, field-tested and weighed.”
Hamza said that preliminary investigation carried out by the NDLEA indicated that the suspect was returning from Pakistan where she was given the drug.
“The suspect who hails from Abia State also has established link with some Pakistani drug traffickers who sponsored her trip in collaboration with some local accomplices,” Hamza was quoted as saying.
Aladi said that she took to drug trafficking to settle her bills.
“I am a single mother and I need money to take care of myself and my child.
“I used to sell clothes but the profit is inadequate to sustain my family.
“I would have earned half a million naira to pay for my rent and my child’s school fees if I had succeeded in bringing the drug.
“They paid for my return ticket and hotel accommodation. While in my hotel room, a Pakistani woman came to give me the drug.
“She also instructed me to conceal it in my private part to avoid arrest.
“Unfortunately, NDLEA officers detected it,” the suspect was quoted as saying.
The suspect is an old student of St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Aba in Abia State.
NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said that the agency would continue to detect narcotics with the help of technological tools.
“The NDLEA is investing in capacity building and modern equipment in drug detection.
“We hope to dislodge drug trafficking cartels through superior intelligence and best global practices.
“Investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of the drug cartel connected to her case,” Giade was quoted as saying.
He called for more public support, stressing that drug control thrived on the principle of collective responsibility.
Giade said that the suspect would soon be charged to court.
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