A Lagos-based telecommunications manager, Ifunanya Igbokwe, has been apprehended by the anti-narcotics agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for drug peddling..
Announcing the arrest of the suspect on Tuesday in Lagos, Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed that Ms Igbokwe, who works with a telecoms firm in the country, was found to have ingested substances suspected to be cocaine on her way to Heathrow Airport, London.
“The 29-year-old computer engineering graduate from Enugu State University of Science and Technology confessed to have ingested 70 wraps of cocaine in a desperate bid to save her sick mother from death,” said Mr Ofoyeju.
Explaining that the crime was detected with the aid of the scanning machine at the centre screening area during the outward clearance of British Airways passengers to London, Mr Ofoyeju said the anti-narcotics agency discovered that the suspect earlier travelled to London on vacation in March.
“She is believed to be working for a drug syndicate and using her job as a cover,” he said. “She was also given £2,000 with a promise of additional money upon successful delivery of the drug.”
Motivation
The suspect, in a statement, denied working with drug cartels, disclosing that her search for funds to cater for the deteriorating health of her mother led her to drug smugglers who lured her into the act.
“My mother is sick and in critical condition. Her sight is failing and she has been diagnosed with partial stroke. I have been solely responsible for her medical bills,” she said.
“When I could no longer settle the bills and the condition is getting worse, I began running around for help, when I fell into the people that introduced me into drugs. This is my first time.”
Hamza Umar, airport commander for the agency, who dismissed the suspect’s claims, said that numerous drug suspects always come up with similar excuses. “We are investigating the case because we are interested in other members of the gang,” he said.
Mr Hamza, however, gave the names of other suspects apprehended alongside Ms Igbokwe to include: Okoli Anthony, 45; Edehen Efosa, 32; Olebunne Ndubisi, 35; and Ndubisi Tochukwu, 30.
The airport commander said that apart from Mr Tochukwu, who attempted to export 1.5kg of cannabis to China, others ingested various quantities of substances suspected to be cocaine.
Describing the act by the suspects as criminal, Ahmadu Giade, Chief Executive of the agency said that if the telecoms firm where Ms Igbokwe works is found culpable, it will be severely sanctioned in accordance with the dictates of the law, adding that all the suspects will be prosecuted.
“Nobody or organisation is above the law. If investigation indicts anyone or group of persons, even a company, the law will take its course,” he said.
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