By Francis Ugwu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said its operatives arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.
NDLEA announced that Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday, 31st March, while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport bearing the name, Carr Bismark.
He was taken for body scan and tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.
In a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, the NDLEA said preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and he was subsequently placed under observation in custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort.
Babafemi said the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously, obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion.
According to the statement, the suspect, who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives, eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.
“The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India,” Babafemi said.
The spokesman also announced that NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport on Wednesday, 3rd April, intercepted a drug mule, Imran Taofeek Olalekan, at Gate C departure of terminal 1 travelling to Oman with a check-in luggage and a backpack.
When his check-in bag and backpack were subjected to thorough search, the operatives discovered a false bottom concealment of drugs in the check-in luggage and in the walls of the backpack.
Babafemi disclosed that the NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport. He was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, who recruited the trafficker.
According to the statement, Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport. He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivers the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola, was to be paid N200,000.
However, when the two bags were completely unpacked at the NDLEA office, a charm was found in one of the bags while another one was found on the drug mule who confessed that he traveled to Ibadan, Oyo State, to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.
He further said that another charm was also found on the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.
Announcing further interceptions and seizures by the NDLEA, Babafemi said: “At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives also on Wednesday 3rd April, intercepted 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing of 1,072kg.
“The seizure was made during a joint examination with Customs Service and other stakeholders of a container marked GAOU 6699215 coming from Montreal, but originated from Toronto, Canada.
“The drugs packed in 46 jumbo bags were found concealed in used 2009 Lexus RX 350, 2011 Toyota Sienna, and 2009 Lexus ES 350 as well as used engines, automobile doors, tyres, and used household goods as well as big drums loaded into the container.
“In Kano, a 48-year-old suspect, Gidado Sani who jumped the bail granted him by a Federal High Court in Kano on drug offence charges, was on Friday 5th April re-arrested in Sharada area of the state with 85 blocks of cannabis weighing 50.1kg, while NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Thursday 4th April, arrested another suspect Wasiu Jimoh, during a raid operation at Ilese Awo, with 84 parcels (62kg) of cannabis sativa.
“Operatives in Lagos on Wednesday 3rd April intercepted a suspect, Emeka Umeh with 506.2kg cannabis at Igbede, Ojo area of the state, while another suspect, Victor Okeke was nabbed on Friday 5th April at Igbo Elerin, Ojo, with 142grams of cannabis sativa and 175 litres of skuchies recovered from him.
“Attempt by 35-year-old Ifeanyi Udogwu to smuggle 1.5kg cocaine concealed in music speakers from Lagos through Aba, Abia state to his uncle, Ifeanyi Udogwu based in Cameroon was thwarted on Wednesday 3rd April when NDLEA officers working in collaboration with transport company, Young Shall Grow Motors, arrested him.”
