Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA boss |
Olowe Moshood Adebesin, a 41-year-old tailor from Ogun State was recently arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with the smuggling of cocaine.
NET gathered that the arrest was made at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by airport officials, on Olowe’s return flight from Brazil.
The substance was discovered in his luggage during the inward screening of passengers on a Turkish Airline flight.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar says the suspect with Nigeria international passport number A00745969 was apprehended during routine check.
According to him, ‘Olowe who travelled
to Brazil in March 2012 was arrested during routine search of
passengers. In the process of search, some substance found in his bag
tested positive to cocaine. We have commenced investigation and he will
be charged to court soon’.
However, the suspect has opened up
claiming ownership of the drug. In his words, ‘I am a tailor at Lagos
Island. I am married with 3 children. Life is unfriendly to me that I
cannot feed my family. The people that sponsored me promised to pay me
N2m. I agreed to smuggle the drugs because the money will change my
life. I wanted the best for my family and I never knew things will turn
out this way. My intention was to start importing clothes from China
with the money but I was not lucky’.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade
warned drug traffickers of the consequences of the criminal act. ‘Drug
trafficking is not a game of luck. We shall continue to arrest drug
traffickers and prosecute them. We support the culture of success
through legitimate business. Those who are in a hurry to get wealth
through criminality will end up in prison custody. The suspect is only
being greedy and he will face the consequences of his action. He should
have weighed the gravity of the offence because the family he loves and
seeks to protect, same he had abandoned today’. The NDLEA boss also called on members of the public to report suspected cases of illicit drugs to the Agency.
We’re told the banned drug recovered from the suspect weighed 2.700kg and has a street value of N29m.