NDLEA arrests cripple, Saudi bound pilgrims with cocaine hidden in fabrics

Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, April 25, 2023

LAGOS, Nigeria – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested two women heading for the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia for concealing 14.4 kilograms of cocaine in already made Ankara and lace fabrics and a cripple dealing in drugs in Edo State.

The two pilgrims, Aribiyi Ahmed Olaseinde, a widower and Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo, a divorcee were intercepted at the Mur Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos Terminal 2, during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers enroute Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia, image maker of NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi said in a statement.

He said Aribiyi was intercepted on Thursday, April 20, 2023 when his carry on bag was checked and four sets of white lace materials with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine and substance weighing 11.50 kilograms were discovered on her.

According to NDLEA, the suspect who claimed to be an advertising practitioner during interrogation planned to ingest the substance but changed his mind after failing in her attempt to swallow bitter cola, while practicing the act of ingesting cocaine tablets.

He will have pocketed N1.8 million if he succeeds in delivering the items to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

On her part, Silifat Tunrayo was arrested at same Terminal 2 during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers on Wednesday, April 19, from Lagos via Doha to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A search on her bag led to discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.9 kilograms concealed in Ankara fabrics.

According to NDLEA, the suspect is divorcee and a trader that sells clothes at Awoyaya area in the Lekki axis. She was allegedly recruited by Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu, MD of B&T Travels Agency who was arrested in Mushin.

In the same vein, a Kelvin Ogenedoro, a 400 Level Marin Engineering Student of Niger Delta University, Amassomma, Bayelsa was arrested for dealing in 600 grams of skunk and was arrested at the university gate in a follow up operation after interception of the substance in a bus in Bayelsa.
Besides, an ex-convict, Sunday Ishaku Emzor aka lalas was arrested for dealing in drugs in Adamawa State. In Kaduna, a truck driver, Adekunle Olarenwaju(32) and his assistant, Tunde Jamiu (20)were arrested following discovering of large consignment of drugs in their truck.

In Edo State, a 42 year old cripple, Lucky Aigberemolen was arrested while trading on illicit drugs in his wheelchair during a raid in Ekpoma. A notorious drug dealer in Okitipupa area, Mr. Matthew Obateru(42) was also arrested for dealing in assorted drugs.