Three suspected members of
a drug syndicate has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) with 18.2 kilogrammes of drugs valued at N163 million.
The acting chairman of the
NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, in a statement announced the arrest she assured
that the agency would continue to check drug cartels, adding that efforts are
ongoing to consolidate on operational gains by the agency.
The suspects who were
arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, included a
South African identified as Sipho Mitshali, 31, found in possession of 4kg of
ephedrine and 8kg of methamphetamine on his way to Johannesburg.
Two Nigerians, Ifeagwu
Osita and Obiabumuo Augustine Ikechukwu, were also arrested for attempting to
smuggle 4.7kg and 1.5kg of cocaine.
Hamisu Lawan, the NDLEA
commander at the Abuja airport, said that the three suspects were under
investigation, saying;
"The South African,
Sipho Mitshali, was caught smuggling 4kg of ephedrine and 8kg of
methamphetamine to South Africa through Addis Ababa.
Ifeagwu Osita imported 263
pellets of cocaine weighing 4.7kg from Dubai while Obiabumuo Augustine
Ikechukwu was apprehended while attempting to export 1.5kg of cocaine to
Switzerland through Frankfurt. The cases are being investigated."
Ifeagwu Osita, one of those
arrested, said that he smuggled drugs to save his sick daughters.
"I am a businessman
living at Okota, Lagos State. I am married with three children. My daughter had
been sick and I have spent so much money on her, yet there is no sign of improvement.
This affected my business and forced me into drug trafficking.
I was desperate to save my
daughter from pain and death. The drug was given to me at Dubai airport but on
getting to Nigeria, I was arrested."
Obiabumuo Augustine
Ikechukwu, who hails from Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, also said that he
smuggled drugs for monetary rewards.
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