ABUJA: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it arrested a 31 year-old South African, Sipho Mitshali and two Nigerians at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for attempting to export 18.2kgs of drugs valued at N163 million.
They include a South African Mitshali, who was found with 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of Methamphetamine on his way to Johannesburg. The two Nigerians, Ifeagwu Osita and Obiabumuo Augustine Ikechukwu were arrested for attempting to smuggle 4.7kg and 1.5kg of cocaine.
The acting chairman and chief executive of the NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, in a statement announcing the arrest, assured that the agency would continue to check drug cartels.
According to her , efforts are ongoing to consolidate on operational gains by the agency.
“The NDLEA is working hard towards making the country impenetrable to drug barons. We are also tightening the noose on drug trafficking syndicates to sustain the gains recorded in arrests of drug barons and seizure of drugs. There is a systematic plan of action to dislodge drug syndicates and ultimately eradicate illicit drugs from our society,” she stated.
The NDLEA boss also called for support from Nigerians against drug barons whom she described as enemies of the society.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, said that the three suspects are under investigation.
“The South African, Sipho Mitshali, was caught smuggling 4kg of Ephedrine and 8kg of methamphetamine to South Africa through Addis Ababa. Ifeagwu Osita imported 263 pellets of cocaine weighing 4.7kg from Dubai while Obiabumuo Augustine Ikechukwu was apprehended while attempting to export 1.5kg of cocaine to Switzerland through Frankfurt. The cases are being investigated,” Hamisu stated.
The arrest of Sipho Mitshali who is a Zulu by tribe from Lehae, Lenasia, a suburb of Johannesburg, with Ephedrine and Methamphetamine to South Africa further validates the growing demand of Ephedrine and Methamphetamine in South Africa.
The NDLEA recently nabbed a suspected drug baron, Tochukwu Harris Ubah with 310kgs of ephedrine and 266kg of methamphetamine, valued at N4.6 billion, hidden inside noodles, cereals and palm oil being smuggled to South Africa.
Ifeagwu Osita said that he smuggled drugs to save his sick daughter: “I am a business man living at Okota, Lagos. I am married and has three children. My daughter had been sick and I have spent so much money on her bills yet there is no sign of improvement. This affected my business and forced me into drug trafficking. I was desperate to save my daughter from pain and death.”
