NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden inside shoes

Officers of the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) uncovered parcels of
cocaine hidden inside the sole
of shoes at the Murtala
Muhammed International
Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The owner of the luggage have
been arrested with two other
suspected drug traffickers that
tested positive. The cocaine with a weight of 3.950kgs
were seized from the suspects.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos
Airport, Ahmadu Garuba said: "Three suspects have been
arrested with a total of
3.950kgs of cocaine. They are
Mbatugosi Paul Ifechukwu, 32
year old caught with 1.950kgs
of cocaine hidden inside shoe
soles, Adugba Ugochukwu
Godson, 34 year old who
ingested 1.50kgs of cocaine on
his way to Sydney, Australia and
Onuoha Friday Dominic, 42 year
old found to have ingested 850
grammes of cocaine from
Brazil. The cases are under
investigation and will be
charged to court soon".

One of the suspects, Mbatugosi Paul Ifechukwu who was once a shoe
seller at Enugu said
that he was brought into drug trafficking by a friend he
met in Brazil.
"After my graduation from
Technical College in my home
town Ihiala, Anambra State in
2002; I went to Enugu where I
was selling shoes. In 2015, I
travelled to Brazil in search of
better opportunities. However,
while in Brazil, I worked as a
barber to earn a living. After a
year and three months in Brazil,
I was disappointed because I
had no savings, so I decided
that I will get some money and
be exporting shoes to Nigeria.
It was in the process of looking
for a start-up capital that a
friend introduced me into drug
trafficking. My friend bought
the shoes and prepared the
drugs inside 13 pairs. This is
my first time and I was caught"
Mbatugosi stated.

The second suspect, Adugba
Ugochukwu Godson who hails
from Abia State and
ingested 1.150kgs of cocaine also blame his involvement in drug
business on a friend:

"I was travelling to visit my wife
who lives in Australia when a
friend introduced me to drug
trafficking. Initially, I told turned
down the idea because I never
wanted anything that will
tarnish my reputation. He later
convinced me that I will never
be caught and also promised
me the sum of fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000). This was how
I fell for him and found myself
in this mess" Adugba stated.

Onuoha Friday Dominic who hails from Abia State and found to have ingested 850
grammes of cocaine also
blamed his involvement on
bad association.
"I was not satisfied working as
an event planner in Brazil
because the salary was just for
subsistence living. After paying
my bills, there was little or
nothing left. That was how I
was introduced into drug
trafficking. My friend said that
the only way to make quick
money is through drug
trafficking. He promised to pay
me $15,000 and I agreed to
swallow the drugs" Onuoha
stated.

In his reaction, the Chairman/
Chief Executive of the NDLEA,
Col. Muhammad Mustapha
Abdallah (retd.) said he was very happy with the arrests.
"Every arrest and seizure of
drugs is a victory over drug
syndicates. The NDLEA will
continue to consolidate on the
operational successes so far
recorded by maintaining
vigilance at all entry and exit
points. This will be
complimented with public
awareness programmes on
illegal drug production,
trafficking and use aimed at
reducing demand for drugs"
Abdallah stated.