NDLEA Apprehends Man Carrying Methamphetamine Worth N31m At Lagos Airport

A South African-bound passenger, Abiodun Israel Banjo, a Nigerian has been arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for attempting to smuggle parcels of methamphetamine worth N31million.

Banjo, 45, who lives in Pretoria, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to aviation portal, nigerianflightdeck.com, Banjo was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight to South Africa. The parcels of drug he was caught with weighed 3.435kgs with a street value of N31million naira.
NDLEA Commander, Ahmadu Garba, said that the drug was detected during routine check on passengers on South Africa Airline flight to South Africa.

Garba said that two bags belonging to Banjo were found to contain parcels of methamphetamine, adding that the bags were food ingredients and clothes but underneath was a thin parcel of narcotics carefully concealed.

He was immediately arrested and investigation is on-going" Ahmadu stated.

The suspect who works in South Africa said that the bags were given to him by a friend in South Africa.

Banjo said: "I work in Pretoria. My friend in South Africa called me that his brother will give me two bags containing foodstuff to take to him. He also promised to give me $2,000. I opened the bags and check thoroughly but could not find anything criminal that was how I accepted to take the bags but I was surprised when the drug was detected under the bags. I feel very sad that my friend has implicated me."

The suspect, a graduate of Technical College, Ijebu-Ode has been living in South Africa since 2012. He hails from Osun State.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, called on members of the public to be aware of tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels.

He said: "Drug traffickers recruit mules by enticing them with money. They are very clever in concealing drugs as drugs have been detected in bags, electronics, foodstuff and clothes among others. We strongly advise that all passengers should endeavour to pack their bags themselves and avoid taking bags for others" Abdallah stated.

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