A 36-yearold Nigerian, Christopher Olua and a Cape Verdean, Rosangela Correia, 36, have been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for illegally importing two kilogrammes of cocaine.
Correia and Olua were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. They were said to have hidden the drug in lady's handbags.
NDLEA, Lagos Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, told PUNCH Metro that the drug was discovered during the inward screening of Emirate passengers at the arrival hall.
Hamza said, "We have obtained Correia's statement through the aid of a language interpreter; it was in portugese. Both suspects are cooperating with authorities in the investigation. Correia claimed that she owned a restaurant in Cape Verde.
Olua, a father of two, claimed to have left Nigeria for Paris in search of better opportunities in 2001.
Olua said, "I was enticed by the financial incentives. There is no much profit in selling shoes and shirts. Moreover, France is a very difficult place to stay now because of unemployment problem.
"If I had succeeded in bringing the drug into the country, I would have invested my share of the profit in business."
The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, commended the arrest. He said, "The NDLEA will do its best to make drug trafficking difficult in Nigeria. Entry and exit points will be made impenetrable to drug traffickers.
"As for Correia, she will be charged under the NDLEA Act. No infringement under the act will go unpunished. We are working towards the arrest and prosecution of other members of the drug cell. The suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation."
Punch
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