Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 26-year-old student, Okonkwo Daniel Anagor, along sides four others for suspected drug trafficking.
DAILY POST gathered that the suspects were apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos for the unlawful possession of 10.255kgs of narcotics hidden in a sack of Garri and their luggage.
The four accomplices are identified as Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi, Ogbonna Donatus Chigozie, Lawal Monsuru Ademola and Okoro Chibueze Augustine respectively.
It was learnt that two of the drug suspects were coming from Brazil with cocaine while three others were going to South Africa, Dubai and Pakistan when they were arrested.
The NDLEA Commander at airport, Ahmadu Garba, while speaking on their arrest said: “The 26-year-old student, Okonkwo Daniel Anagor, was caught with 2.810kgs of Tramadol on his way to Dubai.
“Lawal Monsuru Ademola, 33, a trader, was arrested with 3.310kgs of methamphetamine on his way to South Africa while Ogbonna Donatus Chigozie was caught attempting to smuggle 610 grammes of cocaine to Pakistan.
“Two other suspects, Okoro Chibueze Augustine and Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi were caught with 2.575kgs and 950 grammes of cocaine from Brazil.”
“One of the suspects, Okonkwo David Anagor who hails from Ayamelum Local government area of Anambra state,” the commander added.
Upon interrogation, Anagor said, “I was travelling to Dubai to spend holiday and further my studies but they called me from Dubai that somebody will give me Garri in Lagos.
“When I got to Lagos,” Anagor, who hails from Ayamelum local government area of Anambra State, continued, “the person called me and gave me the bag of Garri. This is my first time of travelling outside the country.”
“At the airport, the Garri was searched and 445 sachets of Tramadol were found inside the bag. That was how I was arrested,” he added.
Another suspect, Ademola, a trader selling clothes at Marina Lagos, said he holds a diploma in Computer Installations and repairs at the Lagos State Polytechnic.
He alleged that his journey to South Africa was aborted as 3.310kgs of crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine was found in his possession. The drug was neatly packed in 26 parcels in the bottom of his luggage.
Likewise, Chigozie was nabbed with 610 grammes of cocaine while attempting to board an Emirate flight to Pakistan.
Also, Augustine, who hails from Imo state, was expecting to be paid N2.5 million described his arrest as bad luck.
According to him, “I have lived in Brazil for a year and six months I have suffered trying to make ends meet in Brazil. I got involved in drug trafficking so as to start legitimate business. I expected to have made N2.5 million from the deal.
“Unfortunately, my partner who would have collected the drug in Dubai failed to show up so I had to come to Nigeria with the drug. That was not the original plan. This is a bad luck and I feel so sad,” Chigozie noted.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, while reacting to the recent arrests called on Nigerians to shun drug trafficking and promote peaceful coexistence.
“Let us obey the laws of the land by avoiding drug trafficking and abuse.
“This way we can promote safety and peaceful coexistence, Giade said,” adding that all five suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
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