NDLEA Nabs Uber Driver, Two Others With Cocaine At Lagos Airport

By Emmanuel Nduka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, nabbed an Uber driver and two others with different quantities of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos over the weekend.

The Uber driver identified as Lawal Tunde Rasheed, was reportedly arrested at the SAHCO export shed of the airport when he brought a consignment from his client to a freight forwarder for export to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Femi Babafemi, Spokesperson of the NDLEA, said when the package was searched, 150 grams of cocaine concealed inside two pieces of air freshener were discovered.

“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Egbo Emmanuel Maduka, in his residence on Wednesday June 9, 2021. Investigations have so far confirmed that Egbo is behind the two seizures of 50 grams of cocaine in hair attachment and another 150 grams of cocaine concealed in air freshener, heading to Malabo. The seizures were made on June 4 and 8, 2021 respectively,” Femi said.

Similarly, the NDLEA spokesman said on Friday, June 11, a male passenger, identified as Udogwu James Johnson on Qatar Airlines from GRU in Brazil, was also arrested at D-arrival hall of the Lagos airport with nine wraps of cocaine that weighed 300 grams in his pant.

In a related development, a 27-year-old final year Petroleum Engineering student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Ali Mohammed, was also arrested with 3.032kg of cannabis sativa at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos, following a tip-off last week Thursday.

Upon interrogation, Ali who was brought up in Lagos, but hails from Nguru, Yobe State, claimed that while on his way to the motor park in Iddo, from Obalende where he lives, met one Ahmed, who upon learning that he was traveling back to ATBU Bauchi via Kano, implored him (the suspect) to help deliver a travel bag containing the seized 3.032kg of cannabis sativa to one Ugo who lives in Sabon Gari, Kano.

Ahmed told the suspect that he would send Ugo’s phone number to him through SMS to facilitate the delivery of the consignment when he arrives Kano.

The suspect, who admitted knowing that the bag contained drugs, however, denied receiving or being promised any form of gratification for agreeing to take the drugs to Kano.