13th September, 2010
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a German-based Nigerian fashion designer with 75 wraps of cocaine concealed in his stomach.
The suspect, Udoh Innocent Essien, 37, was nabbed at the weekend at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, South West Nigeria.
NDLEA said in a statement that Udoh was trying to board a British Airways flight to London when he was arrested. The drugs weighed 1.275kilogrammes, the agency said.
“This is one backward step with adverse consequences on his career,†NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade.
He urged prospective drug couriers to be cautious of their reputation by eschewing criminal acts.
The agency described Essien as a rising fashion designer of repute and who has participated in several international fashion exhibitions. It was learnt that the suspect runs a shop in Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos and another in Germany.
“I had financial problems and was under pressure. My intention was to close my Surulere shop and concentrate on my shop in Germany.
”I have been approached severally to traffic drugs because I travel a lot but I always turned them down. I feel very bad. All I needed was to complete my online fashion shop because I have many products. It was due to frustration and desperation that I agreed to smuggle drugs,†Essien who would have been paid 4,500 Euros stated. He hails from Akwa Ibom State.
NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar warned drug traffickers not to risk smuggling drugs through the airport.
—Simon Ateba