Cocaine: NDLEA Rescues Two Traffickers, Arrests Three Others
The
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) has said that the Agency saved two
suspected drug traffickers from untimely death for swallowing 137 wraps of
cocaine.
The duo and
three other suspected narcotic traffickers were apprehended at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja with 8.588kgs of cocaine.
Apart from
two suspects that ingested wraps of cocaine, three others were caught with
cocaine hidden in socks and chocolates.
Abdallah
said that both suspects would have died as a result of complications arising
from the ingestion of 137 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine.
According to
the NDLEA boss, “two passengers from Sao Paulo, Brazil enroute Dubai have been
saved from premature death by the prompt intervention of narcotic officers.
The suspects
were in a critical health condition on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport due to drug ingestion.
They were
immediately rushed to the hospital for intensive medical care. All 137 wraps of
cocaine ingested by the suspects have been successfully evacuated from their
system and they are now in a stable health condition.”
Abdallah
however, warned that people should eschew dangerous and criminal acts that are
inimical to their well being, public health and safety. “Drug ingestion is a
very risky act that exposes drug traffickers to early graves. People must
desist from such injurious acts, protect their precious lives as well as
promote public well being and safety.
The Agency
will continue to protect lives and enhance public security by ensuring that
narcotic drugs are only made available for medical and scientific purposes” the
Chairman stated.
NDLEA
commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan said that all five suspects were
arrested while attempting to smuggle drugs into the country from Brazil and
United Arab Emirates. “The two suspects that escaped death are Ogbobe James
Chidiebere, 33, who ingested 62 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.131kg and Okonkwo
Ernest Nonye, 33, who ingested 75 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.375kg.
Three other
suspects are Okanimeh Chinedu Niclopez, 33, arrested with a duty free bag
stocked with 3.3kg of cocaine hidden inside chocolates; Obeche Ignatius Emeka,
29, and Ikeaba Chidi Anthony, 31, caught with 1kg and 1.782kg of cocaine hidden
inside socks” Hamisu stated.
Ogbobe James
Chidiebere and Okonkwo Ernest Nonye who are from Enugu State were thankful to
the NDLEA for saving their lives. In the words of Ogbobe, “I thank the NDLEA
for taking us to the hospital on time.
I know that
I made a mistake, but I never knew that it could lead to my death. Even though,
they will take me to court, I still thank God that I am alive. This has taught
me a bitter lesson.”
All the
suspects will soon be charged to court.
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