Nigeria’s Drug Enforcement Agency Arrests Trafficker with $5.5m Cocaine at Abuja Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one Okey Eze at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 350 wraps of cocaine worth over N2.3billion (about $5.5m) on the street.

A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said Okey Eze, 38 years old, who claims to be a tiler by profession is from Orji River, in Oji-River Local Government area of Enugu State.

He said Eze was arrested on Wednesday 22nd September, 2021 during an inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian airline flight number 911 enroute Bamako-Addis Ababa- Abuja.

Babafemi disclosed that the llicit drug weighing 7.70kilograms was concealed in eight packs tucked in different parts of Eze’s luggage.

He said that Eze, who is a resident of Bamako, Mali, in his confession, said he traveled to Mali through Seme border in Badagry, Lagos state since 2019, and further claimed that he came into Nigeria with the drug because he needed to raise money to take care of his late elder brothers’ four children.

The suspect also claimed he asked his friend who is resident in Brazil to assist him with some money but declined and instead told him to pick up a bag with the drugs from a friend of his in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a fee of N500, 000 on successful delivery to someone whose contact would be sent to him on arrival in Nigeria.

He also said the bag containing the drugs was given to him on Wednesday morning at Addis Ababa airport.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the Commander, officers and men of the NAIA command for their vigilance.

He said the new NDLEA under his leadership would continue to deal decisive blows on the various cartels trying to turn Nigeria into a hub of illicit drugs.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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