The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled an attempt by a human trafficker to export illicit drugs to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect, Matthew Bassey, planted the drug in an orphan’s luggage.

Mr Babafemi said that the suspect, who had allegedly recruited the orphan, Eno Peter, for a phantom Job in the Arab nation, was at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

He said that Mr Bassey, 29, from Oron LGA, Akwa Ibom, was arrested on July 6, following Ms Peter’s interception at the departure hall of the Lagos airport.

Mr Babafemi said 50 parcels of cannabis (2.80kg) concealed in food items were discovered in Ms Peter’s luggage while there were discrepancies between the age she declared and the date of birth on her international passport.

“Further interview reveals that the human trafficker, who recruited and brought her to the airport, Bassey, was still lurking around the airport, waiting for her departure.

“He was promptly tracked and arrested. Investigations showed that the victim, who hails from the same Oron LGA of Akwa Ibom as Bassey, recently lost her mother.

“This made it easy for Bassey to recruit her with the promise of securing her a job in Dubai, UAE.

“It was further discovered that the recruiter leveraged on the victim’s naivety and planted drugs in her bag for onward delivery to his contact in Dubai,” he said.

According to Mr Babafemi, NDLEA chairman,  Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of the MMIA command for staying vigilant and proactive in their areas of responsibility.

Mr Marwa charged them and their colleagues across the country not to rest on their oars. 

(NAN)