NDLEA arrests Iran-bound businessman for ‘ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine’

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) have arrested Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian.

The 44-year-old businessman was nabbed for “ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine” while on his way to Iran.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Christian was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on June 7 while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight QR1434 to Tehran Khomeini in Iran, via Doha.

“After a body scan proved positive to ingestion of illicit drugs, he was placed on excretion observation during which he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine in six excretions with a total weight of 1.172kg,” the statement reads.

“The suspect claimed to have gone into the criminal trade two years ago, moving between the West African sub-region and Iran.”

The statement said on June 14, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, also intercepted Edobor Ambrose Ali, an Italy bound passenger on an Air France flight.

“The NDLEA officers in collaboration with the Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), discovered drug consignments hidden in the luggage of the suspect during baggage scanning at the tarmac,” the statement reads.

“The suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification, after which a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14,410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed in winter jackets.

“In his statement, Ebodor said he lives in Italy, where he was hired and sent on an all-expense-paid trip to Nigeria to courier the drug consignments to Milan, Italy, for a fee of 2000 Euros.

“At the Port Harcourt ports in Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA operatives on Friday, 13th June, intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value, during a joint examination of a watch-listed container with men of the Customs Service and other security agencies.

“The opioid consignments were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.”