The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a mother of three, who faked pregnancy with 86 pellets of white powdery substances that tested positive to cocaine.
Dorothy Onyekasi, 41, was nabbed by NDLEA officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The narcotics agency in a statement on Saturday by its spokesperson, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the cocaine, which weighed a total of 1.720 kilogrammes, has an estimated street value of N20.6 million.
The statement quoted the NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, as saying that the way the woman hid the illicit drugs in a waist bag and tied it around her stomach, she could have been easily mistaken for pregnancy.
“It was discovered that the suspect kept 86 wraps of cocaine inside a waist bag which was tied to her stomach”, said Mr. Garba.
“Unfortunately, the drug was detected by NDLEA officers on her arrival from Dubai. The drug was immediately packed and weighed in her presence”.
The suspect, who said she’s an importer of female bags and shoes, said her involvement in drug trafficking was a mistake.
“I am separated from my husband who left me with three children. I used to import female bags and shoes from Dubai. My involvement in drug trafficking is a mistake and I take responsibility for my action.
“I travelled to Dubai to buy my goods. While I was preparing to return, I met a man in Dubai who gave me the drug and promised to give me enough money to expand my business. He also told me that when I get to Nigeria, he will call his partner to collect the drug and give me my money”.
Ms. Onyekasi said on arrival in Nigeria, officials of the NDLEA detected the drugs at the airport.
“It is all my fault”, the suspect, a Junior Secondary School certificate holder and indigene of Enugu State, said. “If only I was contented with the profit from the sales of my goods; I would not have been in this problem”.
Muhammed Abdallah, NDLEA’s Chairman described recent drug seizures at the Lagos airport as a welcome development that is capable of forcing drug cartels to beat a retreat.
“In the past few days, the NDLEA has recorded numerous arrests and drug seizures at the Lagos airport”, said Mr. Abdallah, a retired colonel.
“The drug cartels have also suffered huge losses from these operations. This particular suspect feigned pregnancy with wraps of cocaine but she was caught by vigilant narcotic agents.
“Some of the suspects recently apprehended concealed drugs in their socks and luggage while others ingested wraps of cocaine in disregard of the danger to their health. In spite of their craftiness, we are daily stopping them from perpetrating their criminal act and forcing them to a retreat”.
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