Unegbu was apprehended with two other suspects –Joseph Ettah, 28, and Bright Wopara, 31 – by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the airport.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the drug, estimated at N4bn, was uncovered in artificial hair usually worn by females.
Our correspondent learnt that the drug, which was said to be the largest quantity of ephedrine seized at the MMIA so far, was to be exported to South Africa.
A bag of heroin smuggled from Nairobi, Kenya, and cannabis billed for trafficking to London, were also said to have been abandoned at the airport.
The NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, said a preliminary investigation showed that Unegbu helped the traffickers to conceal the drug.
He said, “Officials of the NDLEA at the departure hall detected a bag and during the search, it was found to contain substances that tested positive for ephedrine, with a total weight of 83.390kg. So far, three suspects apprehended are being interrogated to determine their level of culpability. The parcels of ephedrine were concealed in artificial hair.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that Unegbu, who works as a clearing agent, collected the luggage from his client and took it to the airport. Ettah and Wopara are the two luggage handlers who worked with him.”
The NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.), said the agency had intensified narcotic screening at the airport to frustrate the different tricks employed by drug traffickers.
“This end of the year counter-narcotic smuggling strategy had prevented attempt by a suspected drug trafficking syndicate to export 83.390kg of ephedrine hidden in female hair attachment to South Africa.
“Ephedrine is a precursor ingredient used in the production of methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the drug is about N4bn.
NDLEA will continue to resist attempt by criminal syndicates to compromise security through strict law enforcement practice.
“Anti-narcotic agents have been placed on the alert and will remain vigilant to detect any act of sabotage. The case is under investigation and anyone found wanting shall be prosecuted in line with the NDLEA Act,” Abdallah said.
“Anti-narcotic agents have been placed on the alert and will remain vigilant to detect any act of sabotage. The case is under investigation and anyone found wanting shall be prosecuted in line with the NDLEA Act,” Abdallah said.
Awon eeyan Escobar!
ReplyDeleteThis ndlea are good at catching drug traffickers at the airport. But not good at catching the thieves that open suitcases and steal stuff from the travellers!!
DeleteTheir own na play for where Pablo Escoba dey na...
DeleteThis NDLEA people bust only people that didn't settle them...
ReplyDeleteThe drug owners would have sorted them out nah...
See wetin greed dey cause..now they have lost their business...
Are you for real???
DeleteYou know this....You gotta pay your dues to get through...They aint loyal...
DeleteAwon eeyan Escobar!
ReplyDeleteThief man. You no gree settle boys well with that amount that it is worth.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame Daniel. You will enjoy christmas in Kirikiri Prison
Another set of people that are into coded drug business are boutique people, using the boutique as a facade.
ReplyDeleteMoral lesson: envy anyone, be contented.
In your mind you just gave a moral lesson which doesn't make sense!
DeleteYou are so right@becky and they have been using boutiques as cover up as far back as 1996
DeleteBecky naka"envy no one,be contented"
DeleteLolz
ReplyDeleteI no fit shout
Straight to prison
*Don't envy anyone*
ReplyDeleteNa greed de worry the man...
ReplyDeleteNa greed de worry the man...
ReplyDeleteYou can imagine!!! Why they choose to deal on illegal drugs is beyond my comprehension!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many ways you can succeed in doing legal business, but these people have the syndrome of making money through the fast lane, not minding those that their evil ways are destroying.
They flaunt their illegal wealth on people's face and those who are gullible will start asking God questions.
pictures pls
ReplyDeleteChoi! See plenty money pheww
ReplyDeleteNa wah o!
ReplyDelete4Bn worth of this evil?
Only God knows the kind of havoc this would have caused in SA. A country already ravaged by drugs and illegal substances.
Addiction is addiction but soemtimes I can't help but wonder how peeps take something that is so harmful to their bodies and hurt the people around them.
Corruption aggravates by the day because of the poor state of the country. Why would people not get indulge in vices when they can hardly put food on their table. Only God can bring back good times.it's well
ReplyDeleteThis people didn't settle NDLEA well
ReplyDeleteIgbo people
ReplyDeleteAnambra dem kikikikikikiki
DeleteGbam
Chai kirikiri will be his permanent home now
ReplyDeleteAwon eyan wobe!
ReplyDelete4b, worth of drug, the hustle is real mehn.
ReplyDelete