A 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu over alleged ingestion of 98 wraps of cocaine.
Key points
NDLEA says the suspect ingested 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510kg.
He was arrested while preparing to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
The agency also intercepted other drug consignments in Lagos.
Cyril was arrested at the airport's departure hall on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers boarding Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
Following his arrest, the NDLEA placed him under excretion observation, during which 98 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms were recovered.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations showed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drug at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State.
He subsequently travelled to Enugu to board his flight back to Europe.
In his statement, the suspect reportedly said he had been doing business in Italy for several years before agreeing to transport the drug for €3,500.
He allegedly told investigators that he accepted the deal to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
NDLEA intercepts more drug consignments
The NDLEA also reported several other interceptions linked to drug trafficking attempts.
In Lagos, operatives at a courier company stopped a consignment containing 25 phone chargers allegedly destined for Saudi Arabia.
The agency said another attempt to send 500 grams of cocaine to Italy was also foiled on Monday, August 3 after officers discovered the drug hidden inside the false bottom of a backpack at a logistics company.
On Tuesday, August 4, NDLEA operatives at another shipping company in Lagos intercepted a consignment containing 2.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, which had arrived from the United States.
The agency said investigations into the various interceptions and arrests are ongoing.
