The Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 44-year-old man, Taiwo Omidiya, who swallowed 87 wraps of drugs suspected to be cocaine and heroin.
The PUNCH learnt that Omidiya, who worked in an automobile company in Spain, was put under check by the operatives after some wraps of cocaine and heroin were found in his underwear.
It was gathered that Omidiya later excreted 87 wraps of the drugs.
It was learnt that apart from Omidiya, three other suspects – Chidi Igwe, Charles Anikwe and Basil Agomo – were apprehended by the operatives of the agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, in connection with narcotic substances that tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine.
Omidiya said, “I have been living in Spain for the past 14 years where I work with an automobile company. My friend in Barcelona requested that I bring the drugs to Spain. He even contacted somebody who gave me the drugs in Lagos. After swallowing 87 wraps, I hid the remaining in my underwear because the wraps were many. I was sad when the drugs were detected at the airport because I would have made a fortune from them.”
Another suspect, Igwe, 24, was arrested on his way to Cyprus where he wanted to continue his studies.
He said, “I got admission two months ago to study Tourism and Hotel Management in Cyprus. While in Nigeria, a friend in Cyprus called me to bring narcotics for a fee of E5, 000 (about N1.4m). I wanted to use the money to settle my fees and buy books for my study. This is a big setback for my career.”
In his confession, Anikwe, an attendant in a hotel, said a customer had lured him into the crime under the guise of helping him to further his study in Malaysia.
“I was working as a hotel attendant in Lagos when a customer asked me if I was a graduate. I told him that I had five credits, but could not further my education because of lack of finance. He promised to help me and used to give me money any time he came around.
“He later called me that he has completed my admission to further my studies in Malaysia. That was how he paid my travel expenses and gave me a bag to take to Malaysia. He said his friend would collect the bag from me and assist me with my school admission. Unfortunately, a drug was found inside the handle of the bag he gave me,” Anikwe said.
Agomuo, a 44-year-old farmer from Imo State, said, “A friend invited me to Pakistan. He promised to help me secure a good job. When I got to Pakistan, he told me there was no job, but that I should take drugs to Nigeria. He promised to give me N500, 000 to start a business. Since life was becoming unbearable I decided to take the risk.”
The NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Mr. Umar Hamza, confirmed the arrest, adding that a total of 6.1 kilogrammes of drugs were recovered from the suspects.
The agency’s Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, said the agency would continue to intercept narcotics, arrest traffickers and prosecute them.
