NDLEA detects cocaine in shoes, voltage regulator

Punch

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has discovered 2.5 kilogrammes of cocaine inside female shoes and voltage regulators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The NDLEA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the seizures were made from a consignment of female shoes from Brazil on board an Ethiopian Airline flight and a shipment of voltage regulators meant for export to Gabon on a DHL cargo flight.

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, confirming the seizure, said the shipment of shoes had been abandoned.

He said, “We found an abandoned luggage containing ladies shoes that originated from Brazil. During examination, 1.860kg of cocaine was found inside the shoe soles.

“Our men at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited section of the airport also detected 600 grammes of cocaine hidden in a voltage regulator. A freight forwarder had been arrested in connection with the cocaine shipment to Gabon.”

The suspect, 37-year-old Anslem Nyeaka, a native of Imo State, in his statement said that he was given the consignment by a client.

The father of five said, “I am a freight forwarder with over five years working experience. A client gave me a bag containing three voltage regulators and hair attachment to send to Gabon. The NDLEA at SAHCOL, while searching the luggage, dismantled the voltage regulators and found five parcels of substance that tested positive for cocaine in one of the regulators.”

The Chairman of NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, said a close watch would be kept over the Nigeria-Brazil route, while other African routes were being re-classified in line with current risk levels.

He said, “Recent drug seizures on some African routes have placed them on a high risk platform. We must be vigilant in preventing the sub-region from being used as a drug hub. The suspect will be charged to court soon.”