“My father’s Death Pushed Me Into Drug Trafficking” – Drug suspect

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Friday, said they impounded a total of 2.472kg of cocaine neatly concealed inside some expensive jeweleries belonging to one Oluigboka Emmanuel, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The 33-year old suspect , who was said to have arrived the country from Brazil aboard a KLM flight was intercepted by NDLEA officials during routine search of passengers aboard the flight. Sources said the NDLEA officials discovered powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine in his bag of jewelery. A source added that it took the officials several hours to extract the cocaine from the jeweleries because of the complex method of concealment. Speaking on the latest discovery, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the drug was factory packed inside assorted jewellery. “This mode of concealment is strange and it is the first time of discovering drugs inside jewellery. The drugs were industrially packed in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles as well as in female belts. We had to forcefully open them to recover the drugs. The entire quantity of cocaine found in the jewellery products weighed 2.472kg. One arrest has been made in connection with the seizure” Hamza stated. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect who had lived in Brazil for over five years is believed to be working for a suspected Brazil- based drug syndicate. However, Oluigboka Chukwuemeka Emmanuel in his statement said that he was smuggling the drug for a fee. In his words, “I needed money for the burial anniversary of my late father. As the breadwinner, everybody is looking up to me for the sponsorship of the anniversary. I have lived in Brazil for over 5 years but I have no money to undertake this important family responsibility. My interest was the 2,000 euros they promised to pay me”. Oluigboka who is married with a child hails from Imo State.