How NDLEA Nabbed Suspected Drug Baron With N8Bn Worth Of Cocaine

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A Brazil based suspected drug baron, Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also intercepted 36 blocks of cocaine, weighing 27.95 kilogrammes with a street value said to be about N8bn.

The suspect was arrested at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was reportedly arrested at the airport on Friday 14th May, 2021, for importing 27.95kg of cocaine using their organised criminal syndicate, which specialises in tagging/planting drugs in innocent travellers’ luggage.

According to Femi Babafemi, the spokesman of the NDLEA, on Sunday in Abuja, he said that based on intelligence, narcotic agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Saturday 8th May, 2021, intercepted a bag that arrived the Lagos airport from GRU, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the Ethiopian airline with baggage tag No- ET331199 but was disclaimed by an arriving passenger on the flight.

The disclaimed bag was promptly secured by NDLEA operatives for investigation.

“On Sunday, 9th May 2021, a man came to the airport to make inquiry on how to get the disclaimed bag released, he was promptly arrested for investigation.”

“The disclaimed bag was opened in the presence of the arriving passenger and the man who came to negotiate the release of the disputed bag. When it was opened, it was found that the bag contained 36 blocks of cocaine, weighing 27.95kg.”

“A follow up sting operation was carried out, which led to the arrest of Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, the prime suspect, on Friday 14th May upon his arrival from Addis Ababa onboard Ethiopian airline.”

“During preliminary interrogation after his arrest, he confessed to have been contracted by his Ethiopian associate, who is a notorious drug baron to claim and push out the consignment in Lagos, Nigeria.”

“He further admitted to have paid the $24,500 bribe in three tranches to compromise NDLEA officers. The first was $10,000 delivered through his representative in Lagos and another $10, 000 via his First Bank account while the third tranche of $4,500 was paid at the point of his arrest,” Babafemi said.

He added that the drug kingpin group is suspected to be responsible for recruiting traffickers to move illicit drugs to various destinations using Nigeria as their transit location and also planting drugs in the luggage of innocent travelers.