The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 40-year-old Madrid, Spain-based ‘businessman’, Sherif Egbo at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja for drug trafficking.

In a statement issued by Mr. Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, it was disclosed on Sunday in Abuja that a suspect was apprehended while attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris, France. The arrest occurred when authorities discovered that the individual had ingested illegal drugs.

The suspect was taken into custody on Saturday, October 14, after a body scanner revealed that he had concealed packages of illicit drugs in his stomach. Subsequently, the suspect was placed under observation in the exhibit recovery room of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), where he later excreted a total of 93 pellets of heroin, with a combined weight of 2.222 kilograms.

According to Mr. Babafemi, the suspect claimed in his statement that he works at a chicken hatchery farm in Madrid, Spain, but is also involved in the drug trafficking business.

Furthermore, at the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) import shed within the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives made additional seizures. They intercepted a consignment of 10 cartons containing 500,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, which were labeled as tapentadol. This cargo had been shipped from India via Qatar Airways, with an airway bill number MAWB 319-01227236, and was purported to be a transit shipment to Monrovia, Liberia.

“However, the lid was blown open through partnership and real time intelligence sharing mechanisms between NDLEA and its Liberian counterpart, ” he said.

Also, attempt by an intending passenger to Muscat, Oman on Qatar Airways, Ngene Chinecherem, to export 11.100kgs of skunk and 600grams of tramadol had been frustrated by the NDLEA operatives.

Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in foodstuffs and were to be exported through the Lagos airport, adding that the suspect was arrested and the illicit substances were seized.