– Recovers tramadol consignments in winter jackets at Lagos airport; intercepts N1.1billion opioids in Rivers
The operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an Iran bound 45 year old businessman at the Port Harcourt International Airport for ingesting 53 pellets of cocaine.
The suspect, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian was arrested on Saturday 7th June while trying to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 flying to Tehran Khomeini, Iran via Doha.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, said Ezemokwe was asked to step aside after a body scan proved positive to ingestion of illicit drug.
He was placed on excretion observation during which he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine in six excretions with a total weight of 1.172kg. The suspect claimed to have gone into the criminal trade two years ago, moving between the West African sub-region and Iran.
“Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos in the early hours of Saturday 14th June intercepted an Italy bound passenger, Edobor Ambrose Ali on an Air France flight.
“The NDLEA officers in collaboration with the Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), discovered drug consignments hidden in the luggage of the suspect during baggage scanning at the tarmac.”
Babefemi said the suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification after which a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14, 410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed in winter jackets.
“In his statement, Ebodor said he lives in Italy where he was hired and sent on the all expense paid trip to Nigeria to courier the drug consignments to Milan, Italy for a fee of 2000 Euros.” The spokesman said in a statement.
Babafemi added “At the Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA operatives on Friday 13th June intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion naira in street value, during a joint examination of a watch-listed container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
“The opioid consignments were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.”
