NDLEA seizes cocaine from tailor, arrests 63 suspects

A woman, Godfrey Rita, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for allegedly trafficking in a drug that tested positive for cocaine.

The 46-year-old suspect had reportedly trafficked 1.5 kilogrammes of the substance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on her way from Spain, where she worked as a fashion designer.

It was learnt that the drug, packaged in a polythene bag, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, during the screening of passengers on the plane.

Another suspect, 26-year-old Adebayo Seriki, was said to have been apprehended at the airport with 2.1 kg of heroin onboard an Ethiopian airline from Mozambique.

Rita, who hails from Edo State, reportedly told the NDLEA she was promised N500,000 to smuggle the drug.

She said “I am a trainee fashion designer living in Spain. I had financial problems and I was introduced to drug trafficking by a friend. I was told a man would give me the drug while in transit in Dubai. While at the Dubai airport, a man approached me and asked if I was Rita and I said yes. He said he was from my friend, and he gave me the drug in a duty-free bag.

“I was surprised when the drug was discovered here and not in Dubai. I never checked it. I just kept it in my bag the way it was given to me. I am disappointed in myself.”

Seriki, an indigene of Osun State, said he had left Nigeria as a footballer in search of a good club.

“After a fruitless search for a football club in Tanzania for some months, I moved to Mozambique. Still, I could not secure a club. In the process, I exhausted my money. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I needed to return home. At this point, I had no choice but to agree to smuggle drugs. I regret my action,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, said 63 suspected drug traffickers were arrested at the MMIA between January and June, 2016, with 484.1 kg of drugs, comprising cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances.

He added that 46 of the suspects were males.

The NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.), said the agency would continue to adopt the principle of shared responsibility and international collaboration in dismantling drug cartels.

He said, “We will continue to build capacity in risk analysis, drug detection methodology and tracing of illicit drug proceeds. This is aimed at identifying and dismantling criminal networks.”