NDLEA arrests businessman with 2.39kg drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Nigerian
businessman for attempting to smuggle 2.390kg methamphetamine to South
Africa.
The arrest was made at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,
Lagos, during screening of Arik Air passengers to South Africa.
According to a statement sent toSUNDAY PUNCH, on Saturday, the
suspect, Raphael Otti, 36, told investigators that he came to Nigeria
for prayers of business breakthrough.
"I came to Nigeria for prayers of business breakthrough but was asked
to bring a bag to South Africa by my sponsor. I sell phone accessories
in South Africa but my business has suffered heavy setbacks.
"This was the reason I came home to seek spiritual solution.
Unfortunately, I was caught with drugs on my way to South Africa" Otti
said.
NDLEA Commander at the Airport, Hamza Umar, said the drug was detected
at the luggage checking desk.
According to Hamza, "the drug was concealed at both sides of the bag.
It was a good mode of concealment but not good enough to escape our
notice. We have commenced investigation, the suspect will be charged
to court for unlawful exportation."
The suspect, holds a diploma in Business Administration from the
Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and hails from Anambra State.
He had lived in Johannesburg for over 11 years.
Speaking of the arrest, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency,
Ahmadu Giade, said it has become more difficult for drug traffickers
to smuggle drugs out of the country due to improved security checks.
"We shall prevent drug traffickers from using the country as a transit
point for drug trafficking. Efforts are ongoing towards making our
exit and entry points more impregnable to drug barons" he said.