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Brazil-based Nigerian Hairstylist Arrested At Lagos Int'l Airport With Cocaine Concealed In Her Bra

October 21, 2016

A Brazil-based Nigerian hairstylist has been arrested by Nigerian anti-drug detectives with cocaine hidden inside her bra.  The suspect, Nnaji Juliet Ijeoma, 30 was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Friday. She was caught with the illicit drug at the airport during the inward screening of South African Airways. 

If the suspect had succeeded smuggling in the drug into Nigeria, she stood to reap the sum of N1 million from her sponsors.

A statement by the spokesman of NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju said that the suspect had attempted to bring in the drug into the country from Brazil.

Ofoyeju hinted that the suspected white powdery substance tested positive for cocaine with a gross weight of 535 grams. the NDLEA spokesperson vowed that the anti-narcotics agency would continue to make more arrests to prevent drug couriers from blossoming in Nigeria.

Commenting on the arrest, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba  said that the incident is being investigated and immediately the agency was through with its investigation Ms. Ijeoma would be charged to court for prosecution.

He explained that the suspect holds a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication and confessed that she took part in the illicit business because she needed money for her business. She allegedly confessed, “I work as a hair stylist in Brazil where l reside for the past two years. I studied mass communication, but because of lack of job, I work as a hair stylist in Brazil. I was approached to smuggle cocaine to Nigeria and I accepted because of the money involved.

“I needed money for my personal problem. The drug was prepared inside brassiere and given to me to put on. I did not know how it was packaged. My role was to smuggle the drug to Nigeria and collect the sum of N1 million.”

The suspect hails from Enugu State.

Besides, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) in his reaction observed that drug traffickers are becoming more desperate in their mode of operation.  Abdallah, however, vowed that the agency was determined to counter the criminal plans of drug cartels in the country.

“It is obvious that drug traffickers are getting desperate, but we are prepared to counter their operations through superior intelligence.

“The discovery of the drug was a big surprise to the suspect because she felt her mode of concealment was full proof. l want drug traffickers to note that no matter how smart they conceal their drugs, we shall detect them.”

The NDLEA boss added that efforts are on-going to unmask other suspected members of the syndicate who are working with International Drug Trafficking Organisations in Brazil.

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CRIME