NDLEA arrests India-bound passenger who ‘vomited 80 wraps of cocaine’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Freeman Charles Ogbonna, an Indian-bound passenger, who vomited 80 wraps of cocaine.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the suspect was arrested on March 31 as he was about to board a flight to Delhi, India, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Babafemi said the suspect had a Liberian international passport with the name Carr Bismark and was taken for a body scan which revealed he had ingested illicit drugs.

“Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort,” the statement reads.

“Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.

“The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.

“The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.”

Babafemi added that NDLEA officials also intercepted one Imran Taofeek Olalekan, a drug mule, at the Lagos airport travelling to Oman.

He said the officials “discovered a false bottom concealment of drugs in the check-in luggage and the walls of the backpack” that the suspect carried.

“The NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport. He was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who recruited the trafficker,” he said.

“Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport.

“He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivered the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola was to be paid N200,000.”

“Further search by the officials led to the discovery of charms in the bag and on the drug mule who confessed that he travelled to Ibadan, Oyo state to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.

“Another charm was also found on the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.”

The NDLEA spokesperson also said operatives on April 3 intercepted 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1,072kg, at the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

“The seizure was made during a joint examination with Customs Service and other stakeholders of a container marked GAOU 6699215 coming from Montreal, but originated from Toronto, Canada,” he said.

“The drugs packed in 46 jumbo bags were found concealed in used 2009 Lexus RX 350, 2011 Toyota Sienna, and 2009 Lexus ES 350 as well as used engines, automobile doors, tyres, and used household goods as well as big drums loaded into the container.”

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the operatives and urged them to remain vigilant and intensify their offensive action against drug cartels, as well as take their war against drug abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign to every community nationwide.