12th September, 2014
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Alhaji Ahmed Giade, on Friday directed personnel of the agency to closely monitor passengers and goods on Nigeria-Brazil air route.
This was contained in a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju. The statement said that the directive was sequel to the arrest of four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Thursday.
It said that the suspects were arrested over illegal importation of 3.46 kilograms of cocaine.
According to the statement, the suspected drug traffickers were caught with the substances, which tested positive for cocaine while returning from Brazil.
“We shall continue to step up surveillance on passengers from Brazil.
“Several arrests have been made on the route and we are prepared to stop drug cartels from smuggling narcotics into Nigeria,” the statement read.
The statement gave the names of the suspects as Ezimora Chidi, Ibrahim Elemosho, Chukwu Chigozie and Mbachu Ifeanyi.
“Chidi was arrested with Elemosho in connection with 1.5kg of cocaine while Elemosho was also linked with Chigozie over 815 grams of cocaine.
“The last suspect, Ifeanyi, was found in possession of 1.14kg of cocaine.
“Elemosho hid the drugs inside his socks, while others simply packed the drugs inside their bags,” the statement said.