NDLEA arrests 7 traffickers, intercepts cocaine consignments in 3 states

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested seven traffickers in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos airports over attempts by Brazil-based drug cartels to smuggle large consignments of cocaine into Nigeria through the three major international airports. At the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on April 9. Three were […]

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested seven traffickers in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos airports over attempts by Brazil-based drug cartels to smuggle large consignments of cocaine into Nigeria through the three major international airports.

At the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on April 9. Three were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.

Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday in Abuja that the three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on board the same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96kgs of cocaine.

 “The first is 51-year-old Udogwu James Johnson who hails from Orlu LGA, Imo state. He was arrested with 5.48kgs of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1m.

“Also arrested is Ezekwueme Ifeanyi Valentine, 32, from Aguata LGA, Anambra State, who was caught with 10.82kgs of cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets, while the third trafficker, Chiezie Ikechukwu Arinze, 35, from Dunukofia LGA, Anambra State, was arrested with 8.66kgs cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver coloured 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top,” Babafemi said.

He said the fourth suspect, Uchechukwu Onwugbufor, 42, from Idemili North LGA, Anambra State, was arrested at the airport car park while waiting to receive one of the traffickers, Udogwu James and his consignment.

He claimed he was contacted by someone in Brazil to receive Udogwu and lead him to Lagos for a fee of N100,000.

Onwugbufor was at the airport with his neighbour, Nwogu Ezimadu, who is also being investigated to determine if he was complicit in the crime.

Also at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, a Psychology graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, Sebastine Emeka Kelvin, 30, was arrested with 74 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.454kgs on arrival aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight en route Doula-Addis Ababa-Abuja on April 13.

The father of one, who claims he’s a motor spare parts dealer, hails from Ezeagu in Ezeagu LGA, Enugu State. He also said he has lived in Cameroon for six years before going into the drug business to raise money to boost his trade.