According to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu was arrested on Tuesday upon arrival from Turkey via an Ethiopian Airlines flight with a stopover in Addis Ababa. A search of his hand luggage uncovered 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grams, which he had reportedly collected in Ethiopia before heading to Nigeria.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who had spent years playing in Brazil. Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but had never brought any to Nigeria.
In another development, Babafemi said a Europe-based businessman, Amen Okoro Godstime, was arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday while attempting to smuggle 5,000 tablets of tramadol (225mg) disguised as malaria drugs. Okoro claimed he intended to move the drugs to Italy through France, where he resides.
The NDLEA also intercepted two drug traffickers arriving from different parts of the world at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. One of the suspects, 38-year-old Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, was arrested with 17.5kg of methamphetamine and 3.05kg of cocaine concealed in bedsheets. The second suspect, 54-year-old Azu Follygan Kpodar, was found with 1.25kg of liquid cocaine.
These arrests are part of the NDLEA’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The agency has been working tirelessly to track down and apprehend individuals involved in such activities, and these latest arrests are a testament to their commitment.
The suspects will face the full wrath of the law if found guilty of the allegations. The NDLEA’s efforts to tackle drug trafficking and abuse are ongoing, and the public is assured that the agency will continue to work hard to bring perpetrators to justice.
