Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Friday arrested a 27 years old Philosophy student at the Ebonyi State University with 5.960 kilogrammes of drug at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, Mr. Chukwu Ramseyn Onyekaozuru was apprehended during the outward screening of Alitalia passengers when he attempted to smuggle about 5.300kg of cannabis and 660 gramnmes of heroin to Rome, Italy.
Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar pointed out that the student was caught with parcels of cannabis that were covered with dried bitter leaf vegetables inside a bag while the heroin was ingested by the suspect.
Mr. Umar further said that the arrest was one of the few cases of poly-drug trafficking made by the command.
“Most traffickers smuggle only one drug at a time. This case is one of the few poly-drug trafficking cases recorded by the command since January. The suspect had 5.300kg of cannabis packed in vegetables and other food ingredients. He also ingested 660 grammes of heroin. It is an interesting case and we have made significant progress in our investigations,” Hamza stated.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade in his response reiterated the need for people to shun drug trafficking.
He said “people who wish to successfully pursue their legitimate aspirations must shun drug trafficking and abuse. It is better to learn from the mistakes of others by avoiding drug trafficking and abuse. Rather than going to prison on account of drug trafficking or undergoing drug abuse treatment, people can simply prevent it by resisting drug barons.”
Alhaji Giade stressed that the suspect will soon be charged to court.
Narrating his ordeal, the suspect who graduated at Ebonyi State University in 2009 with three referrals said that he was lured into smuggling drug because he needed money to travel back to Italy.
Mr. Onyekaozuru said “I studied Philosophy at Ebonyi State University where I graduated in 2009 with three referrals”. I later traveled to Italy and came back to write the three courses. As a result of my long stay in the country, I was broke and needed money to buy my ticket to Italy and settle other family expenses. In the process of looking for money, I was introduced to the drug baron who bought my ticket and gave me one thousand Euros. I accepted the money because I was practically stranded after my exams”
