NDLEA nabs China-bound trader with cannabis

Operatives of The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have apprehended a 39-year-old suspected smuggler who sells motorcycle parts.

The suspect, Chibuzor Ogbodo, had concealed drugs confirmed as cannabis in food items before the officials of the agency

attached to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos nabbed him.

Our correspondent also gathered that Ogbodo, who owned a shop at Nnewi, Anambra State, was apprehended while trying to smuggle the drugs to China.

In the course of investigations, the suspect, who hails from Enugu, said a successful trafficking of the dried weeds weighing 11.06 kilogrammes would have earned him $10,000 (N1.6m) profit.

He claimed that his intention was to resuscitate his “dying” business after a friend had defrauded him of $3,000, adding that he planned to use the profit to buy motorcycle parts in China. He added that the drugs were bought for N200,000.

“I gave a business partner $3,000 to supply me goods and he disappeared. That brought my business to its knees and I had been struggling to take care of my wife and child. I met many people for financial assistance, but nobody was willing to help until I was wrongly advised. A friend told me to smuggle the cannabis to China.

“I bought the cannabis for N200,000. My friend told me that I would have made a profit of $10,000 in China. I was only interested in getting money for my motorcycle parts business,” he said.

The NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the suspect was to board a Qatar Airline flight when he was nabbed.

“The weed we found on Ogbodo tested positive for cannabis. The suspect who deals in motorcycle parts at Nnewi was found with 21 parcels of cannabis hidden inside his bags on his way to China. His travel route as contained in his ticket is Lagos to Doha and from Doha to Guangzhou.”

The Chairman of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, said the suspect would have faced capital punishment if caught with drugs in China.

“Drug trafficking is criminal and many traffickers have died prematurely. I am glad that we prevented the suspect from facing capital punishment in China” Giade said.