The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday arrested a 46-year-old bricklayer from Anambra, who attempted to smuggle 2.07kg of cocaine into the country.
A statement by the Spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, with 83 wraps of substance that had tested positive to cocaine.
“He was detected with the help of scanning machines during the screening of passengers on an Asky Airline flight from Brazil.’’
Ofoyeju said the suspect was recruited by a drug cartel in Brazil and when arrested excreted one of the highest quantity of cocaine ingested at a time so far this year.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that drug barons now have agents who move from village to village in search of drug mules.
“They have several antics, which include promise of better job opportunities abroad. The case is under investigation.”
Ofoyeju quoted the suspect, a bricklayer at Alor Village in Anambra, as saying he was lured to sell family land in order to travel abroad in search of job opportunities.
“I got to Brazil on July 10 and all attempts to get a job was unsuccessful. That was when they sold the idea of drug trafficking to me.
“Initially I objected but when there was no other option, I succumbed. They made me to swallow 83 wraps of cocaine which was detected by NDLEA officers,” he said.
