Drugs law enforcement agency intercepts N8billion cocaine at Murtala airport
Olabisi Kayode-Adedeji in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 36 blocks of cocaine, weighing 27.95 kilogrammes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Penpushing reports that, the Director, Media and Advocacy of the Agency, Femi Babafemi made this known in a statement on Sunday, adding that the street value of the illegal drugs was over N8 billion.
The agency spokesman explained that Felix Enwereaku, a Brazil-based drug kingpin who led a syndicate, was arrested at the airport on Friday, May 14, 2021,adding that the suspect was arrested for importing 27.95kg of cocaine using an organised criminal gang, which specialised in tagging and planting drugs in innocent travellers’ luggage.
Penpushing further reports that, the statement stated that based on intelligence, narcotic agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) had on Saturday May 8th intercepted a bag that arrived the Lagos airport from GRU, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Director, Media and Advocacy disclosed that the baggage with tag No. – ET331199 , arrived through an Ethiopian airline flight but was disclaimed by an arriving passenger on the flight, adding that the disclaimed bag was promptly secured by operatives for investigation.
Penpushing also reports that, Babafemi said, on Sunday, May 9, a man came to the airport to make inquiry on how to get the disclaimed bag released, and was subsequently arrested for investigation.
“The disclaimed bag was opened in the presence of the arriving passenger and the man who came to negotiate the release of the disputed bag. When it was opened, it was found that the bag contained 36 blocks of cocaine, weighing 27.95kg’, he said.
“A follow up sting operation was carried out, which led to the arrest of Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, the prime suspect, on Friday 14th May, upon his arrival from Addis Ababa onboard Ethiopian airline,” Babafemi added.
The statement said, during preliminary interrogation after arrest of the negotiator , he confessed to have been contracted by his Ethiopian associate, a notorious drug baron, to claim and push out the consignment in Lagos.
“He further admitted to have paid the $24,500 bribe in three tranches to compromise NDLEA officers. The first was $10,000 delivered through his representative in Lagos and another $10, 000 via his First Bank account while the third tranche of $4,500 was paid at the point of his arrest’.
“His group is suspected to be responsible for recruiting traffickers to move illicit drugs to various destinations using Nigeria as their transit location and also planting drugs in the luggage of innocent travellers,” he said.
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