By Daniel Eteghe

LAGOS-Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Monday, arrested a 59-year-old grand-mother with 1,500 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

The suspect, Mrs. Ozekwe Franca, was arrested during the screening of British Airways passengers to London Heathrow Airport with the drug neatly hidden in the sides of her luggage.

Chief Executive of NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, expressed disappointment over the grand-mother’s action.

He said: “It is difficult to comprehend her motivation for drug trafficking at 59. Her action is disappointing. This is one wrong step with adverse consequences for the rest of her life.”

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Commander at the Airport, Alhaji Hamza Umar, had explained that the drug was detected at the luggage checking desk at the international wing of the airport.

“A 59-year-old grand-mother, Ozekwe Franca, had been arrested by NDLEA operatives. She was arrested following the discovery of 1.500kg of cocaine in her luggage during routine check,” Umar said.

Narrating her ordeal, the woman, said this was her first time, adding that she was lured into the act because of the 5,000 pounds the man who organised the deal promised her.

She said: “This is my first time of engaging in drug trafficking. I was given the bag with the drug hidden in it and they promised to pay me 5,000 pounds. He never told me that I will be caught. It was like the end of my world because I told my husband that I was going to Lagos.”