S'Leonean caught with N35m cocaine in soap tablets

A 35-year-old Sierra Leonean, Sesay Micheal, has been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for importing cocaine in soap tablets into the country.

A statement by the NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said Micheal was arrested at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, during the inward screening of Etihad passengers.

He was on his way back from Brazil.
The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, confirmed the arrest.

He said, 'A suspect Michael, with a Republic of Sierra Leone passport number E0033840, is under investigation for cocaine importation. The drug weighing 3.910kg was industrially concealed in tablets of soap inside his luggage. The estimated worth of the drug is N35m.'

Michael lamenting his arrest, said, 'I am a businessman from Freetown, Sierra Leone. I sell clothes in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in Conakry, Guinea. I am a single father and I do not have somebody to take care of my child. It is a very painful experience to me because it never occurred to me that I could be arrested.'

Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, commended the agency's officers for the discovery.

He said, 'This seizure will definitely send a warning signal to drug barons that the agency is determined to detect hidden drugs. We are working very hard to prevent the use of our airports, seaports and land borders from being used for drug trafficking.'