Nosa Osula Aituamen
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled an attempt by a 26-year-old Indian student, Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, to smuggle 76 wraps of cocaine into India through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano.
According to a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, Esther, a 200-level student of nursing at the Noida International University in Uttar Pradesh, India, was arrested in her hotel room at the Royal Park Hotel in Sabon Garin Kano on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 11:30 pm.
The student had planned to ingest the cocaine before her return flight to India on Qatar Airways flight 1432 on Friday, January 17, 2025.
However, NDLEA operatives, who were on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi state, intercepted 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie in a commuter bus coming from Lagos enroute Kano.
Inside his black polythene bag was an audio speaker used to conceal 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.340 kilograms, which he was going to deliver to Esther in Kano.
A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of Esther, who claimed that a drug cartel in India recruited her and paid for her trip to Nigeria to enjoy her Christmas and New Year holidays.
She was promised over $5,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit consignment in India.
In related operations, NDLEA operatives in Lagos raided several hideouts and arrested several suspects, recovering various quantities of illicit drugs, including 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 4.9kg, 1,610kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 6kg pills of tramadol.
Other seizures include 28 kilograms of Canadian Loud, 67kg skunk, assorted illicit substances, and a monetary exhibit of ₦623,650.00.
The NDLEA has vowed to continue its efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling in the country, and to bring perpetrators to justice.