By Daniel Eteghe

A female suspect who was arrested yesterday with 13 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, claimed she thought the substances  were fertilizers.

The suspect (names withheld) a Lagos-based clearing and forwarding agent, concealed the drugs inside a bag containing some shirts.

She was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during the screening of passengers aboard a Kenyan Airways flight to Congo.

The 40-year-old suspect, who hails from Umuaha, Abia State,  said it was her first arrest in 18 years as a clearing and forwarding agent.

She said: “This is my first occupational mishap in 18 years. I was told that it was fertilizer and that it is used to preserve fish. That was how I consented to send the bag. I am not good at export because I do mainly import.

“After collecting the bag, I personally searched it and saw the substance in a sack amidst some new shirts. I charged a normal fee as usual and I gave it to a fellow agent on the export desk. I told him that the bag contained fertilizer and some shirts.”

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar,  disclosed that the case was under investigation, stressing that the investigation would uncover other people who were connected with the export.

He said: “We hope to make more arrest on the case. Investigation is ongoing and I am optimistic.”