The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday (Wednesday) announced that cocaine weighing 5.9 kilogram’s believed to worth over N74 million had been abandoned by a suspected drug trafficker.
The agency said the drug was detected by personnel of the NDLEA at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, stating that the drug, which was hidden inside industrial equipment originated from Panama,Central America.
The agency said the discovery was made as a suspected drug trafficker excreted 54 wraps of cocaine he ingested in Brazil.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the suspected cocaine consignment was left unclaimed.
“The luggage was imported from Panama. When nobody came forward to claim ownership, we invited other security agencies to search it, and it was discovered that cocaine was inside industrial equipment. A 36-year-old man, Onyema Goodman Nnamdi, was also apprehended in connection with the ingestion of 54 wraps of cocaine weighing 875 grammes. Both seizures weighed 6.775kg,” Hamza stated.
The suspect said he had wanted to get married with the sum of $4,000 they promised to pay him.
According to Onyema, “I have struggled in my life but I have nothing to show for it. I was in Cape Verde for six years before I went to Brazil in March 2013. My decision to smuggle drugs was to use the proceeds to marry and settle down.”
The agency’s Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, promised to investigate the illegal shipment and expose those behind it.
“Drug barons have no hiding place. This abandoned consignment is an indication that control measures are working and the country is winning the war on narcotics. This case shall be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will be exposed and brought to justice,” Giade said.
He also urged the public to support the anti-narcotics campaign in the interest of humanity.