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Adetutu Sobowale
Nemesis has caught up with a widower, Ahmed Ariyibi, and a divorcee, Tunrayo Akanbi, who were going for lesser hajj in Saudi as they were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
They were allegedly attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine, which was concealed in lace and Ankara fabrics, while traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, announced this in a statement on April 23, indicating that Ariyibi was apprehended on April 20 at the screening point of Terminal 2 at MMIA while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to Medina via Doha.
Babafemi said, “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.”
According to the NDLEA, Akanbi was also taken into custody by officers at Terminal 2 of the airport on Wednesday, April 19, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to Jeddah via Doha.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that during the screening process, officers found 2.90kg of cocaine hidden in six sheets of Ankara fabric that were concealed in her carry-on bag.
The NDLEA said, “preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk clothes around the 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, Adebayo Adeola Wasiu was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.”
The NDLEA equally reported that its officers, who are stationed at courier companies, seized two shipments of drugs – ecstasy and skunk – that were destined for the United Arab Emirates.
The ecstasy pills were cleverly disguised within a gold wedding dress, whereas the skunk was concealed inside a microcontroller.
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