NDLEA arrests tricycle rider, others over drug peddling

A COMMERCIAL tricycle rider was among four suspected drug traffickers apprehended recently by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Enugu airport.

The suspects were apprehended at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu while attempting to smuggle 8.876kg of various narcotic drugs to India, Turkey, Hong Kong and China. Two of the suspects were found to have concealed illicit drugs in their luggage while the other two ingested the drugs found on them.

NDLEA Commander at the Enugu Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh said that all the suspects are being investigated. According to Nsikak “the name of the suspects are Samuel Rapuruchukwu Anele, a tricycle rider caught with 4.892kg of methamphetamine on his way to Bombay, India. Another suspect, Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu was caught with 1.293kg of cocaine on his way to Istanbul, Turkey. Ukaeji Eric Tochukwu was found with 1.408kg of cocaine on his way to Hong Kong while Nwoye Ekene Godfrey was caught with 1.283kg of cannabis, which he had wanted to smuggle to Guangzhou, China. The suspects are helping our team of investigators”.

“Anele, 45, from Ichi village, Ekwusigo Local Council of Anambra State hid 4.892kg of methamphetamine in the false bottom of his luggage. His travel route is Enugu- Addis Ababa- Bombay, India on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The suspect said that he was promised N1 million to set up his own business.

“I am a commercial tricycle rider. Life is not fair to me. Everyday it is one problem after another and the money I earn is not enough. It was frustration that made me to smuggle drugs.

Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu, 31, hails from Ezioko in Orumba North Local Council of Anambra State. He ingested 1.293kg of substances that tested positive for cocaine. He was to depart Enugu to Istanbul through Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airline flight. His reason for trafficking in drugs was to raise more money for his business.

Emmanuel, a secondary school dropout, would have received 3,000 dollars on arrival in Turkey. He is married with a child.

Tochukwu, 43, from Ajali in Orumba Local Council of Anambra State ingested cocaine weighing 1.408 kilogrammes. His route was Enugu – Addis Ababa – Hong Kong on an Ethiopian Airline. Ukaeji said that he wanted to raise money for his business and the treatment of his sick daughter.

Nwoye Ekene Godfrey,38, from Ukpommili Village in Dunukofia Local Council of Anambra State was caught with 1.283kg of cannabis sativa hidden inside garri on his way to Guangzhou, China. The suspect said that he, too, wanted to sell the cannabis in China and use the proceeds to buy goods. He is single.

Chairman of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency shall continue to step up security checks at the nation’s entry and exit points.