NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Three States, Arrests Seven Traffickers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled attempts by Brazil-based drug cartels to smuggle large consignments of cocaine into Nigeria through three international airports.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Babafemi said the three airports were Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos International Airports, adding that the operatives also arrested seven traffickers.
According to him, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on April 9.
He said, “three of them were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.
“The three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil, on board same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96 kilograms of cocaine.
“The first is 51-year-old Udogwu James Johnson who hails from Orlu LGA, Imo state.
“He was arrested with 5.48kg of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1million.”
According to Babafemi, also arrested is Ezekwueme Valentine, 32, from Aguata LGA, Anambra, who was caught with 10.82kg cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets.
“The third trafficker, Chiezie Arinze, 35, from Dunukofia LGA, Anambra, was arrested with 8.66kg cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver colour 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top.
“The fourth suspect, Uchechukwu Onwugbufor, 42, from Idemili North LGA, Anambra, 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 neigbour, Nwogu Ezimadu, who is equally being investigated to determine if he’s complicit in the crime or not,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesperson said a psychology graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, Sebastine Kelvin, 30, was arrested with 74 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.454kg at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.