Cocaine in the Gut: NDLEA Intercepts Iran-Bound Traveler with 53 Wraps

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made another significant arrest in its fight against international drug trafficking.

Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka, a 44-year-old businessman, was apprehended at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) after ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed the arrest in a statement released to Persecondnews on Sunday in Abuja.

Chukwuebuka was reportedly en route to Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, when he was intercepted.

This arrest follows closely on the heels of a similar incident just two weeks prior, when NDLEA operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano intercepted Chinedu Okigbo, a 60-year-old businessman, who was found with 65 pellets of cocaine in his stomach.

He said that Ezemokwe was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday, June 7, while trying to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 flying to Tehran in Iran via Doha.

According to him, after a body scan proved positive for ingestion of illicit drugs, he was placed on excretion observation.

The statement reads: “This was during which he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine in six excretions with a total weight of 1.172kg. The suspect claimed to have gone into the criminal trade two years ago, moving between the West African sub-region and Iran.”

Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) Ikeja Lagos in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, intercepted an Italy-bound passenger, Edobor Ambrose, on an Air France flight.

Babafemi said that 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.

This, he said, was during baggage scanning at the tarmac, adding that the suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification.

He added that a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14410 pills of tramadol 225 mg and 200 mg concealed in winter jackets.

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

The Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of MMIA, PHIA, and FAAN commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

He also praised their counterparts in all commands nationwide for striking a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.