NDLEA Discovers Cocaine In Garri, Arrests Four

22.03.2008

Two days after a drug baron was convicted at the Federal High Court in Lagos, officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), on Thursday, arrested four drug couriers.

Two of the suspects ingested the drug, while the other two packed the drug in a bag of garri respectively. One of the suspects was arrested in the afternoon while three were nabbed at night.

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Victor Coleshawers said that arresting four suspects in a day was an exciting experience and vowed to arrest more unless they stopped using the airport.

According to the Commander: “There is nothing we do not check, not even garri because drug dealers can hide drugs anywhere.” A statement signed by the public affairs officer of the NDLEA, Ofoyeju Mitchell, listed the names of the suspects as Ajayi Felicia, 35 years, Akinleye Tawakalitu, 50 years, Esione Nnamdi Blessed, 26 years and Alozie Chijindu Bright, 25 years.

Felicia, a trader based in Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State, was arrested on her way to Bombay with 1.849 kg of cocaine wrapped in black polythene concealed inside garri in her luggage.

A 50- year old mother of three, Akinleye Tawakalitu, was arrested at the central screening point of the airport with 1.980 kg of cocaine concealed at the bottom of her bag containing her personal effects. She accepted ownership of the drug stating that her Malian friend sent it to her to take to Milan for a fee of 6,000 dollars.

The suspect blamed her involvement in drugs on poverty. “I am a widow with three children. My friend in Mali promised to help me if only I could take the drug to Milan.”