By Oluwakemi Kindness
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman for allegedly ingesting 98 wraps of cocaine at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The suspect, identified as Joseph Cyril, allegedly excreted the wraps weighing 1.510 kilograms after NDLEA operatives arrested him at the airport.
The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Babafemi said operatives arrested Cyril on August 2 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
The suspect was reportedly travelling to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
According to the statement, NDLEA operatives placed Cyril on excretion observation after his arrest, during which he passed out all 98 wraps.
The agency said investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the cocaine at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State.
Cyril reportedly told investigators that he had been doing business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the drugs for €3,500.
He allegedly said he wanted to use the money to raise funds to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
Other Cocaine Shipments Intercepted
The NDLEA also reported intercepting 1.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers destined for Saudi Arabia.
Operatives seized the consignment at a courier company in Lagos.
The agency said officers also stopped an attempt to send 500 grams of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of a backpack to Italy.
NDLEA officers intercepted another shipment containing 2.3 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at a logistics company in Lagos.
The agency said the consignment originated from the United States.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations.
Marwa urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.
