Two drug barons, Elvis Uche Iro and Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, have excreted a total of 165 wraps of cocaine in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA following their arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,Abuja. 53-year-old Elvis who is a father of four children hails from Abiriba, Ohafia local government area of Abia state. He was arrested on Saturday 19th March upon his arrival on board Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis-Ababa for ingesting 65 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.376kg.
During preliminary interview, he claimed he’s an interior decorator but had to go into drug trafficking because he needed money to start a coffee business, to take care of his family and stock his newly acquired shop with curtain materials/accessories in Lagos. He said he would have been paid One Thousand ($1,000) US dollars on successful delivery of the drug in Abuja.
Another passenger on the same flight, 42-year-old Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian was also arrested on arrival for ingesting 100 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 2.243kg. Ikenna who hails from Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state claimed he’s a businessman dealing in baby’s wears before venturing into drug trafficking.
During preliminary interview, he said he traveled to Addis Ababa on Thursday 17th March to buy the drug for Ten Thousand ($10,000) US dollars and returned on Saturday 19th March when he was arrested.
He said he sold his land in his village and took loans from friends to be able to raise money to buy the drug.
He claimed he had to go into drug to raise money for his business after being duped of Fifteen Thousand ($15,000) US dollars by his friend who lives in
China.
In a related development, narcotic officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, have intercepted substantial quantities of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Cannabis sativa packaged for export to Australia, China, Qatar, Ireland and Thailand through some courier companies in Lagos.
While 2.9kg of Methamphetamine in packs of black soup and toner machine heading to Australia and Qatar was intercepted; 600grams of Cocaine concealed in school certificates and file folders going to Australia and Thailand were equally seized. No less than 25.5kg cannabis concealed in packs of Dudu Osun soap and tins of palm fruit extracts (banga) heading to China and Ireland was also seized at a courier company in Lagos.
Seized Consignments.
Spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi who confirmed the various operations, assured that all the suspects would be charged to court accordingly.
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