By Daniel Eteghe

A drug trafficking suspect, Chibude Chidi, said yesterday that wrong advice from drug bandits who assured him of making double gains from money invested in the substance, misled him into the business.

The suspect, 44, who was arrested by operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with 1.185 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to China, said his focus on the N4 million he would have made from his N2 million investment in the substance.

He said: “I am married with a child. I used to sell clothes and my business was flourishing in 2007. My problem started in 2008 such that I lost all my three big shops. I see it as a spiritual attack because I lost everything I had laboured to acquire over the years.

“I sold the only property I have in Enugu with the hope of relocating to Lagos. Unfortunately, I listened to wrong advice and invested my last savings in cocaine business. They assured me that I could earn twice the amount I invested in the deal but I am regretting my action.”

Asked if he was aware that drug trafficking attracted capital punishment in China, the suspect, who hails from Enugu State, said that he never thought about it, adding that his attention was on the four million profits he would make from the trip.

Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Commander at Lagos airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said the suspect ingested 1.185kg of whitish substances that tested positive for cocaine.

Umar further noted that the suspect sold his property in Enugu State and invested the money into drug trafficking with the hope of making a profit of additional two million naira.

He said: “We discovered from our investigation that the suspect sold his property in Enugu and invested the proceeds in drug trafficking due to wrong counsel from friends.

“He was apprehended during outward screening of passengers on Qatar flight. The cocaine found on him weighed 1.185kg”.
Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, warned that those seeking wealth from criminality, including drug trafficking, would end up in prison custody.

“NDLEA is combating drug trafficking with every resource at its disposal. Drug trafficking is criminal and the gains of a drug-free society is priceless.

“The lesson to be learned from this case is that those who seek quick wealth from drug trafficking will end up in prison custody,” Giade stated.

He, however, stressed that the suspect’s case was pathetic as he invested N2 million into drug trafficking which would have led to his untimely death if he was caught in China, adding that he (suspect) would soon be charged to court.