NDLEA clamps down on drug cartel

IN a major crackdown, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has aborted a criminal plan by a major drug trafficking syndicate to import 6.4kg of white cocaine worth about N64 million into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The drug, according to the agency, was packed in 16 flat parcels in eight female handbags. Each bag had parcels carefully hidden inside it, which had to be cut open to recover the drugs.

One of the suspects, Kolawole Olayinka, was said to have arrived at the Lagos airport from Brazil en-route Dubai in an Emirate flight on Sunday with the drug in his luggage.

The second suspect, Ahmed Folarin, a member of the cartel in the country who received Olayinka at the airport, was also arrested. The content of the bag included female handbags, shoes and blouses.

Describing the latest onslaught against drug barons as impressive, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, noted that the success was as a result of the red alert declared on the Nigerian-Brazil route.

He warned that the agency would leave no stone unturned in making the society drug-free.

“This no doubt is a result of vigilance and meticulous search by the arresting officers following the red alert on the route. It is not only impressive but also professional. The passenger that came in with the drug from Brazil and his Nigerian accomplice were nabbed in the process. Obviously, tough times await drug barons”, he added.

Airport Commander of the agency, Hamza Umar, said both suspects were apprehended at the car park attempting to smuggle the drug at the international wing of the airport.

“The drug was industrially concealed inside female hand bags in the luggage of Kolawole Sosanya Olayinka, a passenger on Emirate flight. His Nigerian accomplice, Ahmed Folarin, was also caught in the process of smuggling the drug out of the airport. They have both made useful statements on their involvement and investigation continues”, Hamza stated.

Olayinka is a single father of a 10-year-old girl. He hails from Ijebu in Ogun State but has lived in Brazil for the past four years.

He claimed he was enticed with the sum of N1.5 million naira offer. “I am a poor orphan trying to survive the frustrations of life. I was promised the sum of 1.5 million naira to bring the bag from Brazil with the drugs. My intention was to assist my only daughter and my grandmother who took care of me. The bag was given to me in Brazil. They told me the parcels were only three but upon my arrest, I was shocked to see 16 parcels. It was a plan for them to reduce my fee. I would not have settled for N1.5 million if I had known the actual quantity”, he stated.

Folarin, his accomplice, who claimed to be selling cell phone accessories at Lagos Island, hails from Kwara State.

He said investigation was on-going, adding that both suspects will be charged in line with the NDLEA Act.