Businessman nabbed with N1.4bn cocaine blames action on economic recession

A 34-year-old man hoping to evade the attendant harsh economic conditions by trafficking in cocaine has been apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The suspect identified as Okolo Emenike Kingsley was caught with wraps of cocaine worth £3.8 million (about N1.474billion using interbank exchange rate) concealed in soles of shoes.

Kingsley who revealed that recession forced him into drug trafficking was reportedly arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja by NDLEA agents.

Mitchel Ofoyeju, NDLEA spokesman revealed that the suspect concealed the drugs in parcels weighing 9.150kgs inside the soles of shoes he was carrying.

“The discovery was made in a shipment of shoes during inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The cocaine was industrially concealed in the soles of new foot wears.” Ofoyeju said.

Continuing, Ofoyeju added that; “It was the last arrest of 2016 at the Abuja airport with an estimated value of 3.8 million pounds in Europe.”

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When Interrogated, Kingsley  blamed his action on recession which he said has affected his business.

“My business was failing due to recession so I travelled to Brazil in search of employment. Things became worse for me in Brazil because I had no money to sustain myself while my work permit was being processed.

“I was equally confronted with the fear of deportation. This made me to become desperate in my search for quick wealth. In the process, I met my childhood friend who offered me N1million to traffic cocaine to Nigeria. He also paid for my ticket and gave me three bags of shoes containing the cocaine.

“On arrival at the Abuja airport, the cocaine was detected and I was arrested. I had planned to invest the N1 million in a business in Nigeria.”

Hamisu Lawan, NDLEA Commander at the Abuja airport, said “Investigation is ongoing and the suspect is cooperating with our team of undercover officers.”

 

 

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