NDLEA arrest 5 man drug trafficking syndicate with 11.5kg of cocaine valued at N57m

A 5 man drug trafficking syndicate consisting of 28 year old Nonso Akubueze, Simon Omoluonye, Obidike Onodyer, Friday Onyeabor and Emma Ifoh, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for trafficking 11.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at N57 million from Brazil into Nigeria. Punch reports that the men were arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.



When interrogated, Akabueze who is a graduate of Economics and was found with 1.1kg of cocaine hidden in his luggage, said he had left Nigeria for Brazil with the hope of getting a good job in Brazil but his expectation was dashed on getting there.

“I am a 2009 graduate of Economics but I have no job. I left Nigeria in search of job opportunities. My condition of living in Brazil was worse than when I was in Nigeria. It was my friend that gave me the bag containing the drug.”he said

One of the arrested men, Simon Omeluonye said he was to be paid N1m for trafficking the banned substance. According to him, he had planned to use the money to further his education and start up a business. 40 year old Obidike Onodyer when interrogated said he was paid N200,000 for the 11 wraps of cocaine he ingested.

"“Drug trafficking was my last option to free myself from the harsh condition of living in Brazil. Unfortunately, I could only swallow 11 wraps so I was paid N200,000.he said

Reacting to their arrest, the NDLEA commander at the MMIA, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the seized drug comprised white and crack cocaine concealed in tins, among others.

“Different methods were adopted in concealing the drug.

One of the suspects, Omoluonye, was caught with both white and crack cocaine in tins weighing 7.8kg. Akubueze had 1.1kg by the side of his luggage while Onodyer ingested 11 wraps of cocaine weighing 0.5 grammes. Onyeabor was found with 74 wraps weighing 1.3kg and Ifoh was caught with 34 wraps weighing 0.7 grammes. Apart from Onyeabor, who hails from Enugu State, the other 4 suspects are from Anambra State.”