The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an ex-footballer, Emmanuel Okafor, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja for cocaine trafficking.
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that Okafor was arrested on arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa.
He flew in on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Babafemi stated that the suspect had 1.4kg of cocaine concealed in the handles of his bags and in the top edges of the bags.
He added that the 33-year-old indigene of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State was arrested on September 26 after anti-narcotic officers unravelled where he concealed the illicit substance.
“During preliminary interview, Okafor said he was a footballer at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu FC, where he played for four seasons before leaving for Sri Lanka in 2014.
“He said that he moved to Brazil from Sri Lanka after playing for two seasons, but could not advance his football career in Brazil as he did not have official documents,’’ Babafemi stated.
He added that another Brazil returnee, Chinedu Ibeh, was also arrested on September 26 upon arrival at the Lagos airport from Sao Paulo, Brazil, also via Ethiopian Airlines.
He stated also that Ibeh hails from Ahiazu in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State and was found to have concealed 3.2kg of Black Cocaine popularly known as “Lucci’’ in false bottoms of his two bags.
“In his statement, he said he was to be paid N3.1 million on successful delivery of the drug in Nigeria,’’ the NDLEA spokesman stated.
Also, NDLEA has thwarted attempt by a 32-year-old businesswoman, Mrs Pamela Odin, to traffic 2.150kg tablets of Rohypnol through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Babafemi said that the mother of one was arrested on September 23 while attempting to board a Turkish airline flight with the drug concealed inside pepper and packed among foodstuff.
He said that the suspect, an indigene of Afiesere village, Ughelli North Local Government in Delta State, claimed she operates a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey.
“She claimed to come to Nigeria to see her relatives and buy food items for her restaurant business,” Babafemi added.
Meanwhile, two Malians: Mohammed Demoele, 38 and Coulibaly Maliki, 56, have been arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of the NDLEA at Ebute Ero jetty in Lagos.
Babafemi said that the suspects were arrested for attempting to export 34.2kg bottles of a new psychoactive substance, Akuskura, to Mali through Cotonou, Benin Republic.
In another development, NDLEA operatives on September 29 intercepted 100 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 73.500kg, concealed inside animal feeds in Taraba.
Babafemi said that a physically challenged drug dealer, Abdulrahman Mohammed, was also arrested with 104kg of compressed cannabis sativa.
He said that the suspect was arrested on Saturday in Ogun by NDLEA operatives.
“Another suspect, Ms. Safiya Bello, was also arrested in Shagamu area of the state with 27kg of the psychotropic substance,” he added.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men at the NAIA, Taraba and Ogun commands for their resilience.
Marwa charged them and others across the country to intensify ongoing offensive action against drug cartels and traffickers wherever they may be located in any part of Nigeria.
