NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigeria's NDLEA Arrests Drug Jailbird, Traditional Doctor, 5 Others

By Lateef Lawal

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have apprehended an ex-convict, Uzoaru Oliver over drug trafficking. The suspect tested positive for drug ingestion on Thursday June 3, 2010 during the screening of passengers on Iberia flight to Madrid, Spain. Also arrested include a traditional doctor, Longe Moshood Adewale, 58, and five others for alleged drug related offenses.

While on observation, Uzoaru expelled 60 pieces of powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 915 grammes. Uzoaru was first arrested April 9, 2009 while about to board a KLM flight to Holland with 1.273kg of cocaine in his stomach. He was charged to court and sentenced to eight months imprisonment after which he regained his freedom on Friday December 11, 2009. Prior to his first arrest, Uzoaru lived in Padova, Italy for nine years before returning to the country in January 2009. The ex-convict who used to sell fridges is married with a child and hails from Orlu in Imo State. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.

In his confession, Uzoaru blamed his involvement in drug trafficking on human error and frustration. “All I know is that it was a big mistake. It is not a good thing to be in this condition, but I was frustrated and could not explain how it happened again. When I came out of the prison, there was nothing for me to do. I even begged for transport money to get home. In the process, I met a contact that prepared another international passport for me because NDLEA seized my first passport. I would have been paid 2,000 Euros but unfortunately I was caught again. It is a mistake and I regret everything” he lamented.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade said that the situation would have been prevented if the court had sentenced him to 15 years as stipulated by the law. According to the NDLEA boss, “this unfortunate situation where drug convicts get recycled is avoidable. The re-arrest of the ex-convict is an indication that light sentences do not deter criminals. This is a collective responsibility and we must all work towards a drug free Nigeria of our dream, because crime that is highly lucrative requires stiff penalty to enforce compliance.”

The traditional doctor, Longe Moshood Adewale who was caught on June 8, 2010, attempted to board Iberia flight to Paris with 77 pieces of cocaine which he was got to expel. He is married to two wives and has nine children. According to Longe, he had fortified himself with charms and was surprised that he was found with the drugs. “I am a traditional doctor and prepared myself before the trip, so it is shocking that they were able to detect me” Longe stated. He hails from Iperu in Ogun State. ( Continues below….. )

NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar gave the name of other suspects as Okwara Calistus Chinonye, 30, Mgbakogu Nnaemeka, 34, Kadaji Hadija Shettima, 57, Emeto Lucius, 42 and Uzoma Nnaemezie Gerald, 39. Emeto Lucius, a trader based in Italy for over 14 years ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.535kg for a fee of 2,800 Euros. He was to board Air France to Paris when he was nabbed. His reason was that he lost his job, and his trading business was in financial distress. He hails from Imo State. Mgbakogu Nnaemeka that sells cars at his home town Asaba, Delta State was nabbed on June 3, 2010 for ingesting 46 pieces of cocaine weighing 950 grammes. He was to board an Iberia flight to Madrid.

Uzoma Nnaemezie Gerald, a cleaner in Greece also confessed to have swallowed 85 pieces when he was arrested on June 6, 2010. Luck ran out for the Imo State suspect, while he was attempting to board an Iberia flight to Madrid. He would have been paid 3,500 Euros. A 57 year old female trader at Akute who is the only female among the seven suspects, equally fell into the NDLEA dragnet on June 6, 2010 on her way to London in an Arik flight. She ingested 85 wraps of cocaine for which she would have received 3,000 Euros. Okwara Calistus Chinonye, who lives in Spain, was caught on June 3, 2010 on his way to Madrid in an Iberia flight. He swallowed 100 wraps and was to be paid 6,000 Euros. He said that he lost his job and he met his contact at a night club.

Some of the suspects are still under observation.

Lateef Lawal (NigerianAviationNews)

View @ http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/Disclaimer.html

*Tags: Nigerians, NDLEA, Airlines, Drug, Jailbird, Abuja, Lagos, Africa, Masterweb