NDLEA arrests widow ‘attempting to traffic cocaine with fake pregnancy’ in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested 50-year-old Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike over her attempt to “traffic 1.3 kilogrammes of cocaine using a fake pregnancy” as a facade.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the suspect is a widowed mother of one and proprietress of Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

Babafemi said she was arrested at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba area of the state, on Friday while attempting to move the cocaine consignment to customers in Abuja.

“A follow-up operation at her house in Ago palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in the production of a strain of cocaine,” the statement reads.

“In her statement, Ezewuike claimed she inherited the criminal trade from her husband, who died two years ago, while she has been in the fashion business for 20 years.”

In another development, no less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States and concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink, were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on August 19 by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) division.

“In Adamawa, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Friday, 22nd August, raided the home of a notorious drug dealer, Idris Garba who scaled the fence to escape arrest while one of his associates Boniface Nnaji, 55, who attempted same was caught in the act at Rumde Baru area of Yola South,” the statement reads.

“Recovered from the premises include a black Toyota Thundra jeep marked FST- 885-CZ driven to Yola by Nnaji to supply Garba 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and others as well as a Toyota Yaris car with registration number DSA 776 AA.

“A total of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were seized from a suspect, Neche Okonkwo, at the Idah waterside after crossing the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra state, to Lokoja, Kogi state with the opioids on Wednesday, 20th August.”

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officers for the arrests and seizures.

He enjoined personnel across the country to continue with the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.