The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old female makeup artist at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for drug trafficking.

In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the suspect, who claimed to be travelling to India for a fibroid surgery, was apprehended after 2.20 kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered in factory-fitted walls of her bag.

He said that the suspect was arrested on Monday, June 16, based on credible intelligence.

“Under surveillance, Adekoya was allowed to check in her luggage and arrested at the point of boarding her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

“When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.20kg were found concealed in the walls of the suitcase she was carrying.

“In her statement, she claimed she embarked on the trip for financial benefits but under the pretext of going to India for surgery to remove a fibroid from her stomach.

“Further investigation revealed the suspect was recruited and funded by a drug baron currently at large, Akeem Adekanbi, who owns Rockford Hotel located in Sango area of Ogun state while he lives at Igbe Laara in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a shipment of sewn female dresses on Thursday, June 19.

Mr Babafemi said they contained 1.3kg Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, going to Bahrain.

He also said that on Wednesday, June 18, operatives of the agency uncovered 850 grammes of cocaine concealed in cloth hangers heading to Australia.

Mr Babafemi said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

He named some of them, including a WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Government Day Arabic Secondary School, Guri, Jigawa, and Government College, Lafia, Nasarawa.

Mr Babafemi said this also included Atodo Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi; Natsugunne Junior Secondary School, Jabba, Kano; and Shalom Academy, Ibagwa, Enugu.

He added that the Osun State Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile Ife.

Mr Babafemi said the NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of MMIA and DOGI commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures in the past week.

(NAN)