Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 48-year-old Emmanuel Orjinze, a France-bound businessman, for “ingesting 111 wraps of cocaine”.
In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Orjinze claimed to be a Europe-based professional footballer.
He was arrested on May 21 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport during the outward clearance of Airfrance flight 878 from Abuja to Paris.
Babafemi said following a body scan which confirmed he ingested illicit drugs, Orjinze was taken into custody where he excreted 111 pellets of cocaine, over a period of three days, that weighed 1.603 kilogrammes.
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“The suspect claimed he does business in the maritime sector while still scouting for any European football club to engage him,” the statement reads.
The statement added that NDLEA officers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate.
“This followed the arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8kg of methamphetamine and 7.60kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa,” the statement reads.
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“The lid was blown off the syndicate when an official within the airport system was intercepted with a backpack and a bag at the departure hall of Terminal 1 of the airport by NDLEA officers with the support of Aviation Security officers on Tuesday 21st May 2024.
“A search of the bags led to the discovery of the illicit substances.
“A swift follow-up operation at Ajao Estate area of Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of another member of the cartel working within the airport system on Saturday 25th May.”
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