By Daniel Eteghe & Ifeanyi Okolie
ABUJA—National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, apprehended two suspected drug traffickers over unlawful exportation of 3.250 kilogrammes of cocaine to Europe at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

One of the suspects (names withheld), aged 46,  in possession of a Netherland’s international passport with number RRFCOPC24, was found to have ingested 1.650kg of cocaine.

The suspect was to board a KLM flight on his way to Amsterdam. The other suspect (names withheld), aged 48, ingested 1.600kg of cocaine and was to board a British Airways flight to London Heathrow,  when he was apprehended.

According the NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport, Alhaji Hamisu Lawan,  the suspects were nabbed with the aid of the scanning machines at the central screening area of the airport.

He said: “It was easy to intercept the suspects because of the NDLEA scanning machine. Their timely arrest here is good for the country’s image.”

He  assured that the Command would remain vigilant in preventing  the use of the Abuja airport for drug trafficking purposes.

While warning drug traffickers that the agency would frustrate their efforts of raising money from illicit drug trade, Chairmana and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, pointed out that the nation’s entry and exit points would remain impregnable to drug barons, stressing that the use of foreign passports and other strategies by drug traffickers will not help them.

He said: “The days of drug barons are numbered. We shall leave no stone unturned in bringing drug barons to book. Whoever is hoping to make money from drug trafficking is dreaming.”

Giade cautioned.
He however stressed that both suspects had in their confessional statements admitted that they were in financial difficulty and needed money to settle their domestic bills adding they would soon be charged to court in line with the relevant sections of the NDLEA Act