Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, have arrested a 59-year old fish farmer, Chukwuani Columbus Christopher, with 25kg of ephedrine.
The farmer was arrested aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight while on his way to Johannesburg, South Africa, through Addis Ababa.
A statement by Mr. Michel Ofoyeju, NDLEA spokesman, said officials of the agency got a tip-off that the suspect had the illicit drug in his luggage after he had already beaten the screening machines at the airport.
“The suspect was arrested, following a tip-off, after he had already gone through screening. When the substance was detected, it was tested and found to be positive for ephedrine. Already, an investigation has commenced into the case since the arrest," said Mr. Ambrose Umoru, NDLEA Commander at MAKIA.
Christopher, who is based in Enugu, stated that he took to drug smuggling in order to expand his fish farming business. He disclosed that he was promised $2,000 by his sponsors.
“I am a fish farmer at Agbogugu, Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State. I am married with three children and due to financial problems, my business was almost going into extinction. I decided to smuggle drugs to invest the money in my fish farm. They promised to pay me the sum of $2,000,” Christopher said in his confessional statement.
Reacting to the arrest and seizure, NDLEA Chief Executive, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.), said intelligence is crucial to the fight against drug trafficking.
“Effective drug control is predicated on excellent intelligence management. This case is a validation of the cardinal role of good intelligence gathering and processing. The case is being investigated and further information shall be provided to members of the public,” stated the NDLEA boss.
He also assured that the agency will make more arrests in connection with the seizure, adding that the suspect will soon be charged to court.