Cocaine seized at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it detected a 2.5 kilogrammes of cocaine stashed inside a consignment of female shoes and voltage regulators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The agency said the consignment of female shoes from Brazil on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight and a shipment of voltage regulators were meant for export to Gabon on a DHL cargo flight.

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar said the shipment of shoes had been abandoned.

“We found an abandoned luggage containing ladies shoes that originated from Brazil. During examination, 1, 860 kg of cocaine was found inside the shoe soles. Our men at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited section of the airport also detected 600 grammes of cocaine hidden in a voltage regulator,” he said.

A freight forwarder had been arrested in connection with the cocaine shipment to Gabon.

The suspect, 37-year-old Anslem Nyeaka, a native of Imo State, however claimed a client gave him the consignment.

Speaking on the arrest, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said a close watch would be kept over the Nigeria-Brazil route, while other African routes were being re-classified in line with current risk levels.

“Recent drug seizures on some African routes have placed them on a high risk platform. We must be vigilant in preventing the sub-region from being used as a drug hub. The suspect will be charged to court soon,” he said.