Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 48-year-old Paris, France-bound footballer, Emmanuel Okechuku Orjinze who ingested 111 wraps of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said on Sunday in a statement that the businessman excreted the substance after days of observation in the agency’s custody following his arrest by NDLEA operatives.
Okechukwu who also claims he is a professional footballer in Europe was arrested on Tuesday 21st May during the outward clearance of Airfrance flight AF 878 from Abuja to Paris, France.
The suspect was caught after a body scan confirmed he ingested illicit drugs, he was taken into custody where he excreted a total of 111 pellets of cocaine that weighed 1.603 kilograms over a period of three days.
The suspect claimed he does business in the maritime sector while still scouting for any European football Club to engage him during interrogation by NDLEA.
Similarly, NDLEA officers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have dismantled another drug trafficking syndicate at the airport.
This followed the arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8kg of methamphetamine and 7.60kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa.
The lid, according to NDLEA, was blown off the syndicate when an official within the airport system was intercepted with a backpack and a bag at the departure hall of Terminal 1 of the airport by NDLEA officers with the support of Aviation Security officers on Tuesday 21st May 2024.
The statement explained that a search of the bags led to the discovery of the illicit substances.
A swift follow-up operation by NDLEA at Ajao Estate area of Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu.
Further investigation led to the arrest of another member of the cartel working within the airport system on Saturday 25th May.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport have arrested a freight agent, Sonubi Mariam Abiodun over her attempt to cargo 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2kg concealed in three out of six paint buckets containing shea butter packaged for export to the United Kingdom on Wednesday 22nd May.
Elsewhere in Lagos at Igbo Elerin in Ojo local government area, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 21st May arrested a suspect, Odumegwu Obijofor producing and distributing skuchies, a mixture of black currant and illicit drugs.
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