By Kamsi Anayo
A Nigerian China-bound auto spare parts dealer, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, has been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The suspect, 62-year-old Lagos-based businessman, was found to have ingested dozens of wraps of cocaine, as the agency recorded multiple major drug seizures and arrests across Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.
He said the suspect while attempting to travel to China was found with 95 jumbo-sized wraps of cocaine weighing 1.589 kilograms buried in his stomach.
The agency said Izueke was intercepted on Jan. 31, during outward passenger clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa.
“When taken for body scan, he tested positive for ingesting illicit drug and was promptly placed under excretion observation. Under observation, the suspect reportedly expelled the drug consignments.
“The suspect who claims he’s into clothing and auto spare parts business in Lagos, expelled a total of 95 pellets of the class A drug in seven excretions.”
“The suspect reportedly told investigators he ventured into drug trafficking to raise funds for a building project.
“He claimed he decided to engage in illicit drug trafficking to raise enough money to complete the country home he’s building in his village, Iwollo, Enugu state,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA also recorded several other high-profile drug interceptions nationwide, including in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the operatives recovered 627.7 kilograms of skunk from a makeshift warehouse at Fums Plaza in Kubwa.
Similarly, attempts to smuggle methamphetamine hidden inside MP3 speakers from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna were foiled.
One suspect, Ebube Okeke, was arrested in Zuba, while three others—Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze and Friday Michael—were arrested in Kaduna while attempting to collect another consignment.
In Taraba State, operatives intercepted a suspect transporting yogurt packs from Lagos to Adamawa, amongst others.
Operatives also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Jimoh Nurudeen, at Badeku, Ibadan, alongside an accomplice.
