51-year-old mother arrested with heroin at Lagos airport

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have apprehended a 51-year-old trader with 180 grammes of heroin. The suspect was nabbed during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Entebbe, Uganda. Four parcels of brownish powdery substance that tested positive for heroin was found inside her luggage.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the drug was neatly concealed inside her luggage. “She travelled to Uganda for one week and on her return, she was found with four parcels of heroin weighing 180 grammes carefully hidden inside her luggage. The case is under investigation and will be charged to court soon” the commander stated.

The suspect, Akinyemi Monsurat Olajumoke who hails from Ogun State told investigators that she wanted money to expand her business.

According to Monsurat, “I got married after I graduated from Muslim Comprehensive High School Ijebu-Ode. I am a trader. I used to buy and female clothes from India for sale. However, due to family problems and the economic situation, my capital is getting smaller and I wanted to expand my business. I was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend who invited me to Uganda. I invested my $3,000 dollars into the deal in expectation of over one hundred (100) percent profit. I am sad that things did not go as planned. When the drug was discovered at the airport, I felt as if it was all over for me”.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said that the Agency is prepared to tackle drug trafficking cartels.

“Uganda is not a source country for cocaine but drug cartels are unpredictable. They constantly change their mode of operation but we are prepared to counter all their tricks. We will remain vigilant in securing our country from the criminal activities of drug trafficking syndicates” he stated.

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The NDLEA boss also called on members of the public to shun drug trafficking and protect their human dignity. “Investing the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) in drug trafficking when there are numerous legitimate businesses is ill-advised. People must look inwards and protect their family name” Abdallah added.