The deteriorating health condition of a passenger suspected to have ingested cocaine, yesterday forced an Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to make an emergency landing in Lagos.
Following the emergency landing, four other passengers on the flight were found to have ingested illicit drugs after they were screened by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
One of the suspects was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life.
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, retired Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, called for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking.
Mr. Abdallah, who said that the suspect is responding to treatment, also called for cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking cartels.
According to him, “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far recorded in the fight against drug control.
“Drug traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting involved in the criminal act. All hands must be on deck to condemn drug trafficking in its entirety”.
The NDLEA Commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, said that the Dubai-bound Emirates flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil had to make an emergency landing in Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board who ingested cocaine.
“A passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three recurrent seizures thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos. Upon arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion. They are Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the suspects are under observation”, Garba stated.
