September 11, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested a Brazilian returnee and father of two, Okolie Paulinus Nwabueze, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Nwabueze was arrested for importing Ninety Two (92) wraps of cocaine, which he ingested and eventually excreted after days under observation in NDLEA’s facility.
The 53-year-old trafficker, who hails from Mmaku village, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was arrested on Friday, 2nd September, upon his arrival on Qatar Airline flight en route Brazil-Doha-Abuja.
Spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect, who claimed to have left Nigeria to Mozambique in 2004, finally relocated to Brazil in 2017, where he obtained a residence permit before deciding to import the illicit substance for a $4,000 fee.
“In the same vein, a 42-year-old man, Aliyu Bello Kwasare, was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, for attempting to export a consignment of a new psychoactive substance, Akuskura, to Saudi Arabia.
“The indigene of Kware LGA, Sokoto, who lives in Goron Dutse area of Kano, was arrested on Monday, 5th September, during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Riyadh.
“Also at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, no fewer than One Million and Ninety-Nine Thousand (1,099,000) tablets of Tramadol 225mg have been seized through inter-agency collaboration between NDLEA and the Nigerian Customs.
“The pharmaceutical opioids packed in 50 cartons weighing 2,058.90kg, were imported from Pakistan via Addis-Ababa on Ethiopian Airways. The consignment was concealed among other non-controlled pharmaceuticals.
“Also, a freight agent, Aliyu Abubakar, was on Friday, 9th Sept. arrested at the NAHCO export shed of the airport over an attempt to export a consignment of cannabis concealed inside bottles of Caro white body lotion.
“Meanwhile, attempts by drug cartels to export 7.805 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to the United States and Australia were also thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to some courier companies in Lagos.
“The meth consignments were concealed in the linings of the local fabric, wooden statutes, printer cartridges, handle of travel bag, and cassava flakes.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) in his reaction to the arrests and seizures, commended the officers for their resilience.
“He charged them and their compatriots in other commands to remain focussed and vigilant in their areas of responsibility”, the statement added.
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