The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old Sao Paulo Brazil-based businessman, for allegedly importing shirts and impregnated towels with 6.10kg of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight on Thursday.

He said that a thorough search of his luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, all soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.

He stated, “In his statement, the suspect claims he has lived for over 14 years in Brazil where he runs an African restaurant. He added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy food stuff in bulk for his restaurant.”

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man both persons living with disability have been taken into NDLEA custody in Abia and Rivers states respectively following their involvement in illicit drug trade.

Mr Babafemi said that the woman was nabbed with 1.8kg skunk by Umuosu vigilance group in Umuna Autonomous community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State and handed over to the NDLEA on June 10.

He said that the male suspect was arrested at Rumuokoro Port Harcourt Rivers State with 400g of skunk, 5g of methamphetamine and 100g of tramadol.

He said this included five grams of swinol and 18g of diazepam during a raid by NDLEA officers on June 9.

With the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.

These include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Government Science School, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Community Secondary School, Imufu, Enugu Ezike, Enugu State; Araromi Junior Secondary School, Adekunle Sari-Iganmu, Ijora, Lagos State. 

Others are traditional leaders in Minjibir LGA, Kano State; and St. Charles College, Onitsha, Anambra State among others.

In the same vein, Mr Babafemi said that the Rivers command of the NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Onyekachi Amaonwu, Paramount Ruler of Eberi Omuma kingdom.

(NAN)