LAGOS MAY 29TH (URHOBOTODAY)-A patient medicine dealer in Onitsha, Anambra State has been arrested by Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 2.540kg of cocaine hidden inside laptop bags. The suspect was found in possession of the drug during inward screening of Etihad passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
Confirming the arrest, NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the name of the suspect as Okeke Olisa Uzochukwu. According to him, “officers have apprehended one Okeke Olisa Uzochukwu in connection with importation of cocaine. The drug was concealed inside laptop bags. It was carefully packed in a way that we had to cut the side of the bag open to recover the two parcels containing powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine” Hamza stated.
The 39-year-old suspect told investigators that he traveled to Brazil in search of job before his arrest. “I travelled to Brazil five months ago to work at the world football event facilities under construction. My journey turned out to be a nightmare because I could not secure a job. After I exhausted my little savings, life became very unbearable. The only help available was drug trafficking. It was a hard decision for me but since my pregnant wife is almost due for delivery, I reluctantly accepted an offer of eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira from my sponsors” Okeke stated. He hails from Anambra State.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotic Agency, Ahmadu Giade urged members of the public to support the Agency by sending useful information on suspected drug traffickers. “I urge members of the public to stay away from drugs and provide information on suspected drug traffickers. They should also avoid circumstances that will make them get involved in narcotic smuggling. Spending five months searching for job in Brazil at the detriment of his business and family at home was certainly ill-advised” Giade stated.
The suspect will soon be charged to court.