Oluigboka Chukwuemeka Emmanuel thought he had cleverly concealed
about 2.4 kilogrammes of cocaine in pendants and female belts.But his
luck ran out when he was intercepted by Nigeria’s National Drug Law
Enforcement officials.
The 33-year old suspect had just disembarked from a flight from
Brazil when he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed international
airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

“During
search, powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine were found
in his bag. It took several hours to extract the cocaine from the
pendants because of the complex method of concealment,” said Mitchell
Ofoyeju, NDLEA Head of Public Affairs.
The agency’s airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, disclosed that the
drug was factory packed inside assorted pendants. He described the mode
of concealment as unusual.
“This mode of concealment is strange and it is the first time of discovering drugs inside jewellery,” he said.
Umar explained that the drugs were industrially packed in ear rings,
buttons, necklaces, bangles as well as in female belts.“We had to
forcefully open them to recover the drugs. The entire quantity of
cocaine found in the jewellery products weighed 2.472kg. One arrest has
been made in connection with the seizure,” Umar said.
NDLEA said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who
had lived in Brazil for over five years, is believed to be working for a
suspected Brazilian-based drug syndicate.
The suspect was quoted as saying, “I needed money for the burial anniversary of my late father.

As the breadwinner, everybody is looking up to me for the sponsorship
of the anniversary. I have lived in Brazil for over five years but I
have no money to undertake this important family responsibility. My
interest was the 2,000 euros they promised to pay me”.
Oluigboka is married and has a child. He hails from Imo State. The
arrest took place last week.Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA,
Ahmadu Giade, was quoted as saying: “Although drug barons are becoming
more desperate, the agency is determined to frustrate their efforts.
This seizure is yet an indication that drug traffickers can go to any
length in hiding their drugs from law enforcement agents”.The NDLEA
boss also called for more public support in the anti-narcotic
campaign.“The suspect will soon be charged to court,” NDLEA said.