The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of two ladies who allegedly used hijabs to hide 296,000 tables of illicit drugs on Saturday,
The ladies, Chioma Afam, 36, and 22-year-old Chidinma Caleb, were arrested while trying to smuggle a total of 296,000 tablets of Diazepam and Exol-5 from Onitsha, Anambra State to Gombe State.
According to the NDLEA, Chioma used multiple identities and wears a hijab to evade security scrutiny. While Chindinma also used hijab as a good decoy.
They were however caught during routine checks and profiling of inward vehicles into Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Their vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra State was intercepted along Makurdi Alliade road while heading to Gombe State via Makurdi. A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of 43kilograms of Diazepam and 33kg of Exol-5, both weighing 76 kilograms with a total of 296,000 tablets packed in four large Ghana must go bags.
Reacting to the two seizures and arrests, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA praised the commanders, officers and men of the Benue and Ondo state Commands of the Agency for their efforts to ensure that no illicit substance is allowed to pass through their areas of responsibility for whatever guise or cover to destroy the lives of innocent Nigerians in other parts of the country.
While wishing them and their colleagues in other Commands across Nigeria a happy Sallah celebration, he charged them to remain vigilant at all times.
“For us in NDLEA, a kilogram of illicit drug seized by our gallant and courageous officers across the country is a kilogram less what is available on the streets and in our communities and that is why we’ll continue to encourage all our officers and men to continue to give their best in our pursuit of the mandate President Muhammadu Buhari has given us”, Gen. Marwa stated on Wednesday in Abuja.
