By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old female make-up artist, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos for drug trafficking.

This is contained in a statement by NDLEA spokesman, Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspect who claimed to be travelling to India for a fibroid surgery was apprehended after 2.20 kilograms of cocaine were discovered factory fitted in the walls of her bag.

He said that the suspect was arrested on Monday, June 16 based on credible intelligence.

“Under surveillance, Adekoya was allowed to check in her luggage and arrested at the point of boarding her Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

“When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.20kg were found concealed in the walls of the suitcase she was carrying.

“In her statement, she claimed she embarked on the trip for financial benefits but under the pretext of going to India for surgery to remove fibroid from her stomach.

“Further investigation revealed the suspect was recruited and funded by a drug baron currently at large, Akeem Adekanbi who owns Rockford Hotel located in Sango area of Ogun state while he lives at Igbe Laara in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) on Thursday, June 19 intercepted a shipment of sewn female dresses.

Babafemi said that they were containing 1.3kg Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, going to Bahrain.

He also said that another courier firm the previous day, Wednesday, June 18, operatives of the agency uncovered 850grams of cocaine concealed in cloth hangers heading to Australia.

Babafemi said that the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

He named some of them as WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Government Day Arabic Secondary School, Guri, Jigawa; Government College, Lafia, Nasarawa.

This, he said also included Atodo Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi; Natsugunne Junior Secondary School, Jabba, Kano; and Shallom Academy, Ibagwa, Enugu.

He added that the Osun State Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile Ife.

Babafemi said the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the officers and men of MMIA and DOGI commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

Marwa also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. (NAN)