A Saudi Arabia-bound widower, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde, and a divorcee, Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo have been arrested for allegedly attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in lace and Ankara fabrics on their way to lesser hajj at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.
The spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday said Ariyibi was intercepted on Thursday 20th April at the screening point of MMIA Terminal 2 during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers traveling from Lagos via Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The statement read, “When his carry-on bag was checked, four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 11.50kg were discovered. The suspect who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner said his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practice the process. He is expected to be paid One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,800,000) upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.”
The previous day, Wednesday 19th April, NDLEA officers stationed at the Terminal 2 of the airport also arrested Mrs. Silifat Tunrayo Akanbi with 2.90kg cocaine during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
Babafemi said a search of her hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.90kg concealed in ankara fabrics.
He further explained that, ‘’Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk cloths around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos. Based on information in her statement, a follow up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday 20th April was carried out, during which the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.”
The NDLEA spokesperson also revealed that NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to the United Arab Emirates. He said while the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold color wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a microcontroller.
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