NDLEA Nabs Trader For Attempting To Smuggle Compressed Cannabis Hidden In Crayfish, Local Spices

Jude UzuchuwkwuThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a trader for attempting to smuggle 9.375 kilogramme of compressed cannabis out of the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to PUNCH, the 38-year old trader, who gave his name as Jude Izuchukwu, was nabbed on Monday night while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airways flight to China. The illegal substance was concealed inside the suspect’s foodstuff.

Izuchukwu, who claims to be a cloth seller at Lagos Island, said he got into the illegal business after he was duped;

“I sell clothes on Lagos Island. My business was doing well until I was duped of N5m. Since then, I have been living from hand to mouth. I bought the hemp for N104, 000 and I learnt that I could sell it for $9,000 in China. That was the reason I decided to smuggle drugs”, he confessed.

Parading the suspect before newsmen, the Lagos airport NDLEA Commander, Hamza Umar, said anti-narcotic agents detected the drug during the check-in of passengers’ luggage.

“The cannabis was concealed in dried fish, dried bitter leaf, crayfish, melon and other local food spices. The weight of the cannabis is 9.375kg”, Umar said.