How NDLEA intercepted N8billion worth of cocaine, arrested drug kingpin who offered $24,500 bribe in Lagos

A Brazil-based drug kingpin, Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for trafficking 36 blocks of cocaine, weighing 27.95 kilogrammes with a street value of over N8billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to a statement released by the Spokesperson of the anti-drug agency, Femi Babafemi, the suspect who leads a syndicate that specializes in tagging/planting drugs in innocent travellers’ luggage was arrested at the airport on Friday, 14th May, 2021.

“Based on intelligence, narcotic agents at the MMIA had on Saturday 8th May, 2021 intercepted a bag that arrived the Lagos airport from GRU, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 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. He further admitted to have paid the $24,500 bribe in three tranches to compromise NDLEA officers.

His 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,” the statement read in part.