By Daniel Eteghe

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, arrested a Nigerian based in Johannesburg with 36.850 kilogrammes of narcotics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which was about to be smuggled to South Africa.

The suspect, Mr. Okonkwo Isaac Ekemezie, was apprehended during the outward screening of an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

The suspected substances, hidden in his luggage, were tested and found to be methamphetamine, weighing 17.700 kilogrammes and ephedrine, weighing 19.150 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of N120 million.

NDLEA Commander at Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, said the suspect was apprehended a few days after the arrest of Ilo Chidera Alex with 15.850 kilogrammes of cocaine, concealed inside make-up brushes from Sao Paulo enroute Dubai.

He said: “Drug traffickers are always experimenting with new routes all in a bid to evade arrest by law enforcement officers.

“By our record at this airport, South Africa is not a common route for drug traffickers. Mr. Okonkwo Isaac Ekemezie is a suspected member of a drug trafficking cartel in South Africa where he lives.

“His mission was to come to Nigeria to facilitate the exportation of 36.850kg of narcotics to South Africa.

“That criminal action was, however, aborted because of the vigilance of our officers.”

He further said that Okonkwo’s arrest was similar to that of one Fred Chuka Obi, 49, who was found with 1.594 kilogrammes of cocaine on his way to Tel Aviv, which is also not a normal route for drug traffickers.

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has reiterated his determination to dismantle drug trafficking cartels in the country.