Officers of Nigeria’s National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have apprehended a 26-year old man in
connection with 8.5kg of methamphetamine concealed inside metal pipes, the
agency said on Tuesday.
The suspect, Afunaya Thaddeus Izunna,
who is a retailer of phone accessories in Computer Village,
Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, was found at the weekend to be in possession
of the drug during the screening of passengers on Ethiopian airline flight to
New Delhi, India.
Speaking on the arrest, the NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the
drug was discovered when anti-narcotic officilas insisted in searching the metal
pipes inside Izunna’s luggage.
According to Umar, the drug with a total weight of 8.5kg is one of the highest
seizures recently recorded at the airport.
He said: “This is one of the largest seizures recorded at the Lagos airport in recent time. It was a clever mode of concealment, but I am glad we were able to detect it and the suspect apprehended.
The case is under investigation.”
On the development, NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, said: “This is a spectacular seizure because the drug was carefully concealed in a way that makes detection difficult.
The significance is that a warning signal has been sent to the enemy camp that one of their best tricks is not good enough. This has been my position and order to the officers that drugs should be intercepted regardless of the mode of concealment.”
The NDLEA boss however stressed that the suspect would soon be charged to court.
Narrating hir ordeals, the suspect, Mr. Izunna who hails from Anambra State noted that he was asked to deliver the drug to somebody in India for a fee.
According to the suspect who is married with 2 children, “I am a trader. I sell phone accessories at Ikeja to take care of my wife and two children. It was a friend that gave me the metal pipes that I should take them to India for a fee. I did not know when, how and where it was packed. I was only given the bag containing the pipes”
“Unfortunately, when I got to the airport during screening, NDLEA officers discovered the drug and I was arrested. This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I hope my wife will understand and forgive me” Afunaya pleaded.
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