From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested Okey Eze at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 350 wraps of cocaine worth over N2.3billion in street value.
The 38-year-old Eze, who claims to be a tiler by professional is from Orji River, in Oji-River Local Government area of Enugu State.
He was arrested on Wednesday September 22, 2021 during an inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian airline flight number 911 enroute Bamako-Addis Ababa- Abuja.
A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said the illicit drug weighing 7.70kilograms was concealed in eight packs tucked in different parts of his luggage. In his confession, Eze, a resident of Bamako, Mali, said he traveled to Mali through Seme border in Badagry, Lagos state since 2019. He further claimed that he came into Nigeria with the drug because he needed to raise money to take care of his late elder brothers four children.
The suspect also claimed he asked his friend who is resident in Brazil to assist him with some money but declined and instead told him to pick up a bag with the drugs from a friend of his in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a fee of N500, 000 on successful delivery to someone whose contact would be sent to him on arrival in Nigeria.
He also said the bag containing the drugs was given to him on Wednesday morning at Addis Ababa airport.
Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the Commander, officers and men of the NAIA command for their vigilance. He said the new NDLEA under his leadership would continue to deal decisive blows on the various cartels trying to turn Nigeria into a hub of illicit drugs.