India-Bound Passenger Arrested After Excreting 80 Wraps of Cocaine at Lagos Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a Delhi-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

Ogbonna, who was attempting to board a flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, was identified with a Liberian international passport under the name Carr Bismark.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, Ogbonna was subjected to a body scan which revealed the presence of illicit drugs in his system. He was subsequently placed under observation, where he began to exhibit signs of discomfort.

In a statement released by Babafemi, Ogbonna eventually vomited and excreted a total of 80 wraps of cocaine, weighing 889 grams, over a span of four days. Ogbonna admitted to being recruited into drug trafficking by a relative, with the promise of a cash reward upon successful delivery of the consignment in India.

In a separate incident at the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers intercepted a drug mule, Imran Taofeek Olalekan, who was traveling to Oman with concealed drugs in his luggage and backpack. Olalekan confessed to being promised a substantial sum for delivering the drugs, with the involvement of an intermediary who provided charms to avoid detection.

Furthermore, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan seaport in Lagos intercepted a significant quantity of synthetic cannabis concealed in various items imported from Canada. Additional arrests were made in Kano and Ogun states, where suspects were apprehended with large quantities of cannabis.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the efforts of the various commands involved and urged them to remain vigilant in combating drug trafficking and promoting awareness against drug abuse nationwide.