The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a suspected drug trafficker, Ilo Chidera Alex, for being in possession of 15.850kg of cocaine. The drug, hidden inside make-up brushes, is valued at N126 million.
Alex, 27, said he decided to traffic the substance because he was sick and tired of living in Brazil.
The suspect was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja. The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Alex was apprehended following the interception of the drugs inside his luggage at the Abuja Airport while returning from Brazil.
“The estimated value of the drug is N126 million,” he added. The NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport, Hamisu Lawan, said Alex was found with drugs during routine check of passengers on an Emirate flight.
He said: “Alex was arrested with 15.850kg of cocaine concealed inside make-up brushes. The suspect took off from Sao Paulo en route Dubai to Abuja. The drug was detected during routine check of passengers. Investigation has since commenced and the suspect will be charged to court soon.” The suspect said: “I went to Brazil in search of job opportunities. In the process, I was stranded because I had no job and money to sustain myself.
That was how I met a man who promised to buy my flight ticket back to Nigeria. “He gave me the bag of make-up brushes to take to Nigeria and also promised to give me some money to start my own business. At the Abuja airport, the drug was discovered in my luggage.”
According to Ofoyeju, NDLEA recently prevented six drug suspects from going to Hong Kong where drug trafficking is punishable by death. According to him, they were found with 7.145kg of cocaine which they ingested in a bid to evade arrest.
