NDLEA arrests Indian-based nursing student over ‘attempt to ingest 76 pellets of cocaine’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested Esther Uzodinma, an indian-based nursing student, over attempt to ingest 76 pellets of cocaine.

A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA director of media and advocacy, said the 26-year-old student of nursing at the Noida International University, Uttar Pradesh in India, was apprehended in her hotel room in Kano.

Babafemi said Uzodinma was arrested after NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi intercepted 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie on Thursday, who was en route to Kano to deliver the consignment to the suspect.

He added that the suspect was scheduled to return to India from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Qatar Airways flight on Friday, but was arrested on Thursday at the Royal Park Hotel Sabon Garin Kano, while awaiting the cocaine consignment she was to ingest.

“Her lid was blown open when NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi state on Thursday 16th January intercepted 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie in a commuter bus coming from Lagos enroute Kano,” the statement reads.

“Inside his black polythene bag was an audio speaker, which was used to conceal 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.340 kilograms, which he was going to deliver to Esther in Kano.

“A swift follow up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the female nursing university student later same day.”

The statement said the suspect claimed she was promised over $5,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit consignment in India.

Babafemi added that the suspect also said the drug cartel she was working for paid for her trip to Nigeria for the Christmas and New Year holidays, and lodged her in a hotel in Enugu before she was flown to Abuja and then Kano.

“To avoid her parents knowing she was in Nigeria, Esther did not travel to her home state, Imo but was lodged for two weeks in a hotel in Enugu, from where she was flown to Abuja and then Kano where she was lodged at Royal Park Hotel to swallow the 76 pellets of cocaine sent to her from Lagos before taking her Qatar Airways flight to India on Friday morning” Babafemi added.