NDLEA arrests India-bound ‘fake couple’ with 184 wraps of cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two “fake couple” identified as Ilonzeh Kingsley and Ilonzeh Nonyelum for allegedly ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine.

The NDLEA said the duo was heading to India for a purported medical treatment before they were arrested at the Lagos airport.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said part of the cocaine seized from the couple was concealed in the woman’s private part.

“The two suspects were intercepted at the screening point 1, terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos airport on Tuesday 1st August 2023 while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to India,” Babafemi said.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the documents of the suspects depict that they are couple but it was later discovered that the travel papers were fraudulently obtained for the purpose of drug trafficking.

He said the male suspect was on bail over alleged drug trafficking before he was arrested again.

“The lady later gave her real name as Ngogbike Nkechi. During her interview, she confessed that she was recruited in her church in Aba, Abia state where she lives,” the NDLEA spokesperson said.

“The suspect, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) stated further that she is a divorcee, and that Kingsley with whom she was travelling is not her husband but connected only for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip.

“She revealed that her arranged husband, Kingsley brought the pellets of cocaine to her in her room to ingest in the hotel where they were both lodged in separate rooms the previous day Monday 31st July.

“After their arrest, a thorough search conducted on her led to the discovery of a big size wrap of cocaine that weighed 100 grams she inserted into her private part.

“She confessed that she was promised five thousand dollars ($5,000) upon successful delivery of the drug in India.

“In his own statement, Kingsley who was into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra state, claimed he was promised two thousand dollars ($2,000) after a successful delivery of the drug in India.

“A further search of the agency’s crime data base revealed that Kingsley also obtained his travel documents with fake identity for the trip.

“Indeed, it was established that he was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on 19th March 2022 for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243kgs upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on board an Ethiopian airline flight.”