Officers of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have apprehended a 26-year old man in connection with 8.5kg of methamphetamine concealed inside metal pipes, the agency said on Tuesday.
The suspect, Afunaya Thaddeus Izunna, who sells phone accessories at Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, was found at the weekend to be in possession of the drug during the screening of passengers on Ethiopian airline flight to New Delhi, India.
The drug, NDLEA claimed, is worth N27 million and was discovered when anti-narcotic officers insisted in searching the metal pipes inside his luggage.
The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the drug with a total weight of 8.5kg is one of the highest seizures recently recorded at the Lagos airport.
“This is one of the largest seizures recorded at the Lagos airport in recent time. It was a clever mode of concealment but I am glad we were able to detect it and the suspect apprehended. The case is under investigation” Hamza stated.
NDLEA quoted the suspect to have disclosed that he is married with 2 children.
“I am a trader. I sell phone accessories at Ikeja to take care of my wife and two children. It was a friend that gave me the metal pipes that I should take them to India for a fee. I did not know when, how and where it was packed. I was only given the bag containing the pipes. Unfortunately, when I got to the airport during screening, NDLEA officers discovered the drug and I was arrested. This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I hope my wife will understand and forgive men,” NDLEA quoted the suspect as saying.
NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the suspect will soon be charged to court.
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