Three Arrested at Lagos Airport for Attempting to Smuggle Cocaine and Cannabis
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three individuals at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to import and export illegal drugs, including cocaine and a synthetic strain of cannabis known as "Loud."
Arrest Details:
1. Ihejirika Okechukwu Emmanuel: The 51-year-old businessman was apprehended on October 15, 2024, while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Thailand via Addis Ababa. Upon undergoing a body scan, it was revealed that he had ingested cocaine. During observation, he expelled five large wraps of cocaine, totaling 400 grams. He confessed that he was promised payment for successfully delivering the drugs in Thailand, which he intended to use to support his fish importation business.
2. Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory: A 26-year-old businessman, Iwuagwu was arrested on October 17, 2024, after arriving from Brazil. A body scan indicated that he had ingested illicit drugs. Under observation, he excreted a pellet of cocaine weighing 22 grams and admitted to having ingested 30 wraps of cocaine in Brazil, of which he handed over 29 pellets to another individual in Addis Ababa. He revealed he was to receive N2.5 million for trafficking the drugs.
3. Usman Grace Khadijat Olami: This Canada-based nurse was arrested on October 4, 2024, during the inward clearance of Air France passengers arriving from Toronto via Paris. A search of her luggage uncovered 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing a total of 35.70 kg. During questioning, she claimed she traveled to Nigeria to meet her boyfriend, who had instructed her to bring the large consignment of cannabis.
NDLEA Statement:
The NDLEA spokesperson emphasized the agency's commitment to combating drug trafficking and highlighted the ongoing efforts to intercept illegal substances at the nation's airports.