Matthew Obisesan, 63, and two others were
arrested by law enforcement agents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
in Abuja for allegedly trafficking in hard drugs.
CRIME DIGEST learnt that Obisesan
allegedly tested positive to drug ingestion during the outward clearance of
passengers on a British Airways flight to Heathrow airport in London.
Obisesan, whose real name is Yusuf Yakub,
claimed he was lured into the drug trade with a promise of N700,000, which he
could not resist. “I have three wives and many children. My business is also not
doing well. I need money to take care of my family, hence I decided to smuggle
the drugs for a fee of N700, 000, but I regret my action now,” he allegedly told
his interrogators.
Two other suspected drug traffickers, Amaso
Arovo, 44, and Sade Aminu, 40, were arrested after they were found in
possession of 1.50kg and 1.05kg of cocaine respectively.
Aminu said it was her first time to peddle hard
drugs. She said, “I am a trader. I was lured into drug trafficking. This is my
first time. I have never smuggled drugs in my life. They promised to pay me
£4,000.”
The Abuja Airport Commander of the National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, confirmed the arrests, adding
that all the suspects were detected with the aid of scanning machines.
He said that the only female suspect, Aminu,
caused a stir by refusing to go through the scanning machine on the grounds of
pregnancy.
He said, “The arrests were made possible by the
body scanning machine during screening of passengers at the central screening
area. Sade refused to go through the scan during screening.
“She insisted that she was pregnant and that
the scan would harm her unborn baby. However, while she was under observation,
she excreted wraps of cocaine weighing 1.05kg. When eventually she was made to
undergo a pregnancy test, the result was negative.
“Preliminary investigation shows that (Matthew
Olabanji) Obisesan, whose real name is Yusuf Yakub, is a resident of Kwara State
but lives in Ibadan. (Arovo Moses) Amaso was on his way to Madrid through London
Heathrow on the same British Airways flight with Obisesan.
“Alhaja (Aminu Modinat) Sade, a divorcee and
the only female was however arrested on her way to London through Frankfurt on a
Lufthansa flight LH 563. All the suspects have owned up to the crime and are
cooperating with team of investigators.”
Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-drug
agency, Ahmadu Giade, expressed concern over the state of moral corruption
exhibited by the suspects and warned drug traffickers to prepare for arrest and
prosecution.
Giade said, “The suspects’ level of depravity
is worrisome. In particular, the case of the grandfather calls for a mass action
against drug cartels. The agency has functional scanners at all the
international airports in the country and is determined to stop drug
traffickers. Drug barons that are planning to smuggle drugs must therefore
prepare for arrest and prosecution. The battle line is long drawn and we shall
continue to arrest them.”
The NDLEA boss called on members of the public
to report suspected cases of drug trafficking to the agency. While calling for
more public support, Giade gave assurance that the agency would always respond
speedily to information received. All the suspects will soon be arraigned in
court.
.Culled from Punch
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