A Brazilian returnee and father of two, Okolie Paulinus Nwabueze has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for importing ninety-two wraps of cocaine, which he ingested and eventually excreted after days under observation in the Agency’s facility.

The 53-year-old trafficker who hails from Mmaku village, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State was arrested second September upon his arrival on Qatar Airline flight enroute Brazil-Doha-Abuja.

He claimed to have left Nigeria to Mozambique in 2004 and finally relocated to Brazil in 2017, where he obtained a residence permit before deciding to import the illicit substance for a $4,000 fee.

This is according to NDLEA Director Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi’s statement made available to newsmen.

The statement said Kwasare an indigene of Kware LGA, Sokoto, who lives in Goron Dutse area of Kano, was arrested last Monday during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight to Riyadh.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

His statement also confirms the arrest of a 42-year-old man, Aliyu Bello Kwasare, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, for attempting to export a consignment of new psychoactive substance, Akuskura, to Saudi Arabia.

Babafemi’s statement said no fewer than One Million and Ninety-Nine Thousand tablets of Tramadol 225mg have been seized through inter-agency collaboration between NDLEA and the Nigerian Customs.

According to his statement, the pharmaceutical opioids packed in 50 cartons weighing 2,058.90kg, were imported from Pakistan via Addis-Ababa on Ethiopian Airways, adding the consignment was concealed among other non-controlled pharmaceuticals.

Also, a freight agent, Aliyu Abubakar was last Friday arrested at the NAHCO export shed of the airport over attempt to export a consignment of cannabis concealed inside bottles of Caro white body lotion.

Meanwhile, attempts by drug cartels to export 7.805 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to the United States and Australia have been thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to some courier companies in Lagos.

The meth consignments were concealed in the linings of local fabric, wooden statutes, printer cartridges, handle of travel bag and cassava flakes.

Reacting to the arrests and seizures, NDLEA, Chairman/Chief Executive officer, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Lagos, MAKIA, Kano, for their resilience.

He charged them and their compatriots in other commands to remain focussed and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.