An operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ali Adamu, and
a 48-year-old woman, Ijeoma Ojukwu, have been arrested in connection
with the discovery of 2.2 kilogrammes of drug that tested positive for
cocaine.
The woman, according to the NDLEA, claims to be a
relative of the Ojukwus of Anambra State, while the drug, estimated at
about N20m was sent by one Agina Ejike from Brazil.
It was learnt that Adamu and Ojukwu were arrested with three others – Victor Umeh, Uche Igwelo and Egbuche Osita – for assisting in the smuggling of the drug into the country.
Punch reported that the drug was discovered in an abandoned bag at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during an inward screening of passengers on board an Emirates flight.
Ojukwu and the three other suspects had met with Adamu at the airport to facilitate the collection of the bag when they were rounded up. An Acura MDX vehicle driven by the suspects was also impounded.
Mrs Ojukwu said she had come to collect the bag on behalf of her brother.
She said, “I have a restaurant in Brazil where I sell African food. I am a relative of the popular Ojukwu family and married with three children. My brother came from Brazil and could not find his bag. It was in the process of trying to get the bag out that we were arrested.”
Thirty-six-year-old Igwelo, a graduate of Public Administration, told investigators that she had accompanied Mrs Ojukwu to the airport to assist her in the recovery of the bag.
“Ijeoma (Mrs Ojukwu) met me that I should help her to collect a bag at the airport. We were trying to get the bag when NDLEA officers arrested us,” she said.
Osita, 37, said, “I am a 400-level student studying English Education at a university. My friend, Victor Umeh, asked me to help in claiming the luggage at the airport. I was given a letter of authority and other documents of the passenger that came with the luggage. I was arrested in the process of trying to collect the bag.”
NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, said Osita had come to the airport with an authority letter, mandating him to collect the bag, adding that the drug was discovered in the process.
He said, “This is the first drug seizure for the year. The drug was neatly packed in four parcels concealed in false bottom of four female handbags. Further investigation led to more arrests, including the NDLEA official.”
Spokesperson Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said Adamu had yet to confess to the crime. He said investigation had commenced into the case to determine the level of the suspects’ culpability before they would be prosecuted.
He stated that “the drug is worth over N20m.”
It was learnt that Adamu and Ojukwu were arrested with three others – Victor Umeh, Uche Igwelo and Egbuche Osita – for assisting in the smuggling of the drug into the country.
Punch reported that the drug was discovered in an abandoned bag at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during an inward screening of passengers on board an Emirates flight.
Ojukwu and the three other suspects had met with Adamu at the airport to facilitate the collection of the bag when they were rounded up. An Acura MDX vehicle driven by the suspects was also impounded.
Mrs Ojukwu said she had come to collect the bag on behalf of her brother.
She said, “I have a restaurant in Brazil where I sell African food. I am a relative of the popular Ojukwu family and married with three children. My brother came from Brazil and could not find his bag. It was in the process of trying to get the bag out that we were arrested.”
Thirty-six-year-old Igwelo, a graduate of Public Administration, told investigators that she had accompanied Mrs Ojukwu to the airport to assist her in the recovery of the bag.
“Ijeoma (Mrs Ojukwu) met me that I should help her to collect a bag at the airport. We were trying to get the bag when NDLEA officers arrested us,” she said.
Osita, 37, said, “I am a 400-level student studying English Education at a university. My friend, Victor Umeh, asked me to help in claiming the luggage at the airport. I was given a letter of authority and other documents of the passenger that came with the luggage. I was arrested in the process of trying to collect the bag.”
NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, said Osita had come to the airport with an authority letter, mandating him to collect the bag, adding that the drug was discovered in the process.
He said, “This is the first drug seizure for the year. The drug was neatly packed in four parcels concealed in false bottom of four female handbags. Further investigation led to more arrests, including the NDLEA official.”
Spokesperson Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said Adamu had yet to confess to the crime. He said investigation had commenced into the case to determine the level of the suspects’ culpability before they would be prosecuted.
He stated that “the drug is worth over N20m.”
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