NDLEA apprehends suspect with inserted cocaine at MMIA

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ikeh Maxwell Obumneme, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, with substances that tested positive for cocaine inserted in his anus.
The suspect was arrested on December 26 – Boxing Day on his way from Brazil with drugs packed in six wraps weighing 120 grammes inserted in his anus.

Another suspect, Nwakpo Tochukwu Akumma, was also apprehended while trying to export a consignment containing 1.860kg of methamphetamine sealed in tin tomato paste to South Africa.

Ahmadu Garba, NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, who spoke on the arrests, said the suspects, Obumneme, 40, and Akumma, 27, had targeted the festive period to smuggle drugs.

In his words, “intelligence report received by the Agency indicated that the suspects specifically targeted the festive season to smuggle their drugs. Ikeh Maxwell who inserted cocaine in his anus from Sao Paulo through Dubai on Emirates flight was caught on arrival while Nwakpo Tochukwu that hid methamphetamine in tomato paste meant for export to South Africa on South Africa airways flight was equally arrested.”

Ikeh Maxwell, who hails from Oji River in Enugu State, said this was his first time of dealing in drugs, saying, “I am married with a child and live in Lagos. I sell children diapers and clothes but travelled to Brazil two months ago expecting to buy my goods at a cheaper price. In the process, I decided to smuggle 120 grammes of cocaine for monetary gains. I inserted six wraps of the drugs into my anus, yet it was detected and that was how I was arrested. This is my first time.”

Nwakpo Tochukwu, an automobile parts dealer at Ladipo Market, Lagos, said he was only assisting a friend to send a consignment of foodstuff to South Africa. “I am 27 years old and I am single. I sell motor parts at Ladipo Market. My friend in South Africa asked me to send a luggage to him. He called somebody in Lagos who brought the bag to me and I took it to the airport for shipment. During search, the drug was detected and I was arrested.”