5.9kg cocaine abandoned at Lagos airport

DRUGS suspected to be cocaine, weighing 5.9kg, has been abandoned by a suspected drug trafficking syndicate at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The drug, which was detected by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, was hidden inside some industrial equipment.

A statement by the Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the industrial equipments were said to have originated from panama.

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar said that the cocaine consignment was left unclaimed.

He said, “The luggage was imported from Panama. When nobody came forward to claim ownership, we invited other security agencies and carried out search. It was through the search that the cocaine was discovered inside the equipment.”

The statement added that the discovery was made as a suspected drug trafficker excreted 54 wraps of cocaine he had ingested in Brazil.

Umar said, “Onyema Nnamdi, 36, was apprehended in connection with the ingestion of 54 wraps of cocaine, weighing 875 grammes.”

Nnamdi claimed that he intended to marry with $4,000 that was promised as payment.

He said, “I have struggled in my life but I have nothing to show for it. I was in Cape Verde for six years before I went to Brazil in March 2013. My decision was to use the proceeds to marry and settle down.”

Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade promised to investigate the illegal shipment and expose those behind it.

He said, “Drug barons have no hiding place. This abandoned seizure is an indication that we are winning the war on narcotics. This case shall be thoroughly investigated and those that are responsible be exposed and brought to justice.”