NDLEA Arrests 51 Year Old Mother With Heroin At MMIA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos yesterday arrested a 51 year old woman in possession of 180 grams of heroin. The NDLEA stated that four parcels of brownish powdery substance, testing positive for heroin was found inside her luggage.

A statement by the spokesman of NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that the suspect, who he gave her name as Akinyemi Monsurat Olajumoke, and hails from Ogun State, was apprehended with the prohibited drug during a screening of passengers on an Ethiopia Airlines flight.

Speaking on the development, NDLEA Commander at MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, said that the drugs were neatly concealed inside her luggage. Mr. Garba emphasized that the suspect had travelled to Uganda for one week and, on her return, she was found with four parcels of heroin concealed inside her luggage.

He added that, "the case is under investigation and will be charged to court soon." According to Mr. Ofoyeju, Mrs. Akinyemi confessed to its investigators that she embarked on the illicit business in order to expand her business. 

She confessed that her friend, who invited her to Uganda, had introduced her to the narcotics trafficking business noting that she invested about $3,000 of her business funds with the hope of reaping 100 per cent profit.

She purportedly confessed, "I got married after I graduated from Muslim Comprehensive High School Ijebu-Ode. I am a trader. I used to buy and sell female clothes from India. However, due to family problems and the economic situation, my capital is getting smaller and I wanted to expand my business.

"I was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend who invited me to Uganda. I invested my $3,000 into the deal in expectation of over 100 per cent profit. I am sad that things did not go as planned. When the drug was discovered at the airport, I felt as if it was all over for me."

Also commenting on the arrest, Chief Executive of NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said that the anti-narcotics agency was battle ready to tackle drug trafficking cartels in the country. He declared that Uganda was not a source country for heroin but noted that cartels were not predictable.

"They constantly change their mode of operation, but we are prepared to counter all their tricks. We will remain vigilant in securing our country from the criminal activities of drug trafficking syndicates. Investing the sum of $3,000 in drug trafficking when there are numerous legitimate businesses is ill-advised. People must look inwards and protect their family name, " he said.