The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to Babafemi, Onyebuchi, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
According to him, a search of the suspect’s check-in bag uncovered 1.550kg of cocaine factory-fitted into its walls and railings.
The suspect reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23m to purchase the consignment, which he expected to sell in India for up to N100m.
Babafemi said, “In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.”
The NDLEA spokesman added that the suspect remained in custody awaiting prosecution.
